what type of wave is light?

Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave that also shows particle-like behavior (photons).

Quick Scoop

• In physics, light usually means electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X‑rays, and gamma rays.

• As a transverse wave, its electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.

• Light is an electromagnetic wave, meaning it is made of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and does not need a material medium, so it can travel through a vacuum (like sunlight through space).

• The visible part of light covers wavelengths roughly from 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red).

• On a deeper level, light has wave–particle duality : it behaves like a wave in phenomena such as interference, but also comes in packets of energy called photons.

Mini example

When you see a rainbow, you are seeing visible light—part of the electromagnetic spectrum—split into different wavelengths, all of which are transverse electromagnetic waves.

TL;DR: Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave that can travel through vacuum and also behaves like particles called photons.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.