Headphones have three main parts: a voice coil, permanent magnet, and cone-like diaphragm. The diaphragm vibrates when electrical currents run through the voice coil, converting the electricity into sound waves. There are three main types - sound canceling which emit opposite sound waves, open back which have hard backs, and closed back which have holes in the back. Headphones were first used for radio work in 1919 and now serve purposes like listening to music on devices and airplane pilots communicating.