Carbon arc lamps, also known as arc lamps or carbon arc lighting, are a type of electric lamp that produces light by creating an electrical arc between two carbon electrodes. These lamps started gaining popularity in the late 1800s and were used for street lighting, theaters, and other public places. The term "carbon arc lamps" is widely used, but there are some synonyms that are also used to describe these light sources, such as arc lights, electric arc lamps, and carbon-filament arc lamps. Regardless of the name, these lamps are still used today in some industries, such as film and television production and in some historical lighting applications.