A flashbulb is an early type of photographic flash that produces a bright burst of light when ignited, typically using a simple battery or capacitor system. These bulbs were designed for single use and would burn out after firing, providing a brief but intense illumination for photography.
Flashbulbs were commonly used before the development of reusable electronic flash units and played a key role in early studio, press, and portrait photography. While largely obsolete today, they remain an important part of photographic history and are sometimes studied or collected by enthusiasts interested in vintage photographic techniques.