The laser was invented in 1960 by Theodore Maiman. It works by stimulating the emission of light through a process called optical amplification. The key components of a laser are an active medium to generate the light, an excitation mechanism like electricity to energize the medium, and an optical resonator with mirrors to reflect the light waves and produce coherent, monochromatic light. Lasers have many applications, including use in medicine for procedures like removing gallstones, in manufacturing for precision tasks like drilling, and in everyday devices like barcode scanners, CD players, and communication networks.