Laptop backlight, or in other words LCD backlight, is what illuminates the laptop screen. Backlights illuminate the LCD from the side or back of the display panel.

Now, there are two types of laptop backlight being widely used. These are CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamps) and LED (light-emitting diodes). Earlier, CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamps) were the backlights that were commonly used in laptops. Then, with the development of white light diodes, they started using LEDs in laptop backlight equipment.

CCFL is a somewhat more complicated kind of backlight because it consists of a light tube and an inverter. When the laptop’s screen is dim, then almost certainly the backlight inve rter is faulty. To fix this little problem the laptop screen needs to be disassembled and the inverter needs to be replaced. In some cases, the lamp can develop a fault. In such cases, replacement becomes the only solution.

There are many sources from where you can buy laptop backlight inverters and backlight lamps. The best source is through online auctions where people sell spare laptop parts. Another source would be online classifieds where you can find laptop parts at bargain prices that spell good value.

The laptop backlight fixing procedure is actually quite straightforward; you have to open the laptop's screen, take the inverter or LCD out (depending on where the fault is), connect the part with wires and assemble the screen plastics.

It might be supposed that CCFLs should be more energy-efficient, but the early models of LED backlights actually consumed an equivalent amount of energy or even more than that. The later models were made to be more efficient.

The LED backlight has another disadvantage—ageing. There are two types of LEDs—RGB LED and White LED. Both the types are used in laptops.

The RGB LED can deliver an incredible colour gamut to screens. This type of LED consists of red, blue and green LEDs. RGB LEDs can be found on high-end laptop screens.

White LED backlights are used most often in laptops and desktop screens. Virtually all mobile screens are made with white LEDs, such as mobile phones, PDAs and SatNav etc.

Almost every laptop with 16:9 displays introduced since September 2009 uses LED-backlit panels.

The first impression of LED laptop backlight is good. However, you might get a particular unusual feeling as the screen light appears to be a bit blue. But on the whole, these lights are certainly relaxing to the eyes.