An incandescent lamp is an artificial light source in which light emits an incandescent body that is heated by an electric current to a high temperature. As the incandescent body, a spiral made of a refractory metal (most often — tungsten) or a carbon thread is most often used. To prevent oxidation of the incandescent body in contact with air, it is placed in a vacuum flask, or a flask filled with inert gases or vapors.