Ukukhanya okubomvu nokukhanya kwe-infrared kuyizinhlobo ezimbili zemisebe kagesi eyingxenye ye-spectrum yokukhanya ebonakalayo nengabonakali, ngokulandelana.
Ukukhanya okubomvu uhlobo lokukhanya okubonakalayo olune-wavelength ende kanye nemvamisa ephansi uma kuqhathaniswa neminye imibala ku-spectrum yokukhanya okubonakalayo. Kuvame ukusetshenziswa ekukhanyeni nanjengedivayisi yokubonisa, njengasezibanini zokuma. Kwezokwelapha, ukwelashwa kokukhanya okubomvu kusetshenziselwa ukwelapha izimo ezahlukahlukene njengezinkinga zesikhumba, ubuhlungu bamalunga, kanye nobuhlungu bemisipha.
Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukukhanya kwe-infrared kunobude be-wavelength obude kanye nemvamisa ephezulu kunokukhanya okubomvu futhi akubonakali emehlweni omuntu. Kusetshenziswa ezinhlobonhlobo zezicelo, njengakuma-remote controls, amakhamera okuthatha izithombe zokushisa, kanye nomthombo wokushisa ezinqubweni ze-inductrial. Kwezokwelapha, ukwelashwa kokukhanya kwe-infrared kusetshenziselwa ukuqeda ubuhlungu nokuthuthukisa ukujikeleza kwegazi.
Kokubili ukukhanya okubomvu kanye nokukhanya kwe-infrared kunezici ezihlukile ezenza kube usizo emikhakheni eyahlukahlukene, kusukela ekukhanyeni nasekuboniseni izimpawu kuya kwezokwelapha kanye nobuchwepheshe.