How do LED's Work?

How LEDs Work

When electrical current runs through an LED, the electrons in the current flow into a semiconductor material containing electron "holes"---spaces waiting to be filled with electrons. When the electrons fill those holes, energy is released as photons, or light that is emitted outward, turning the LED into a lightbulb. In contrast, incandescent bulbs generate light from the electrical resistance of a metal filament. The resistance method requires more electrical energy to heat up the filament to a point that it glows and emits light.