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Definition: incandescent bulb


A light source that is created by heating a filament until it glows within a glass chamber filled with inert gas. The incandescent concept using a platinum coil was introduced in 1820; however, the first use of the tungsten filament commonly used today was introduced in the early 1900s. See halogen bulb, fluorescent bulb, LED bulb, Acandescent bulb, tungsten and color temperature.




An Incandescent Filament
In 2014, this small appliance bulb was replaced with the same type. However, in time, this filament-based bulb will seem as obsolete as a tube-based AM radio.