A
backlight is a form of illumination used in
liquid crystal displays (LCDs). As LCDs do not produce light by themselves (unlike for example
Cathode ray tube (CRT) displays), they need illumination (
ambient light or a special light source) to produce a visible image. Backlights illuminate the LCD from the side or back of the display panel, unlike
frontlights, which are placed in front of the LCD. Backlights are used in small displays to increase readability in low light conditions such as in
wristwatches, and are used in
computer displays and
LCD televisions to produce light in a manner similar to a CRT display. A review of some early backlighting schemes for LCDs is given in a report by Peter J. Wild
IEEE First-Hand History under its section
Backlit LCDs.