An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides emergency backup power to a load when the main power source fails. There are three main types of UPS systems - offline UPS, online UPS, and line interactive UPS. An offline UPS only powers the load after a short power interruption to switch from main power to battery backup, while an online UPS provides continuous backup power from the battery. A line interactive UPS offers improved power quality over offline UPS without the higher cost and complexity of an online UPS. Larger industrial UPS systems can provide backup power for extended periods by connecting to backup generators or larger battery banks. Proper maintenance and disposal of batteries is important for safety.