What characteristic does an LED have compared to regular diodes?

An LED, or Light Emitting Diode, is specifically designed to emit light when an electric current passes through it. This phenomenon occurs because the LED is made of semiconductor materials that release energy in the form of photons when electrons recombine with holes in the semiconductor structure. This property of emitting light is what distinguishes LEDs from regular diodes, which do not have this feature.

While other diode types may allow current to flow in one direction and may have specific functionalities such as rectification or switching, the defining characteristic of an LED is its ability to give off visible light. This makes LEDs popular in various applications, from indicator lights to full-scale displays and lighting solutions.