What is light energy referred to as?

Light energy is fundamentally referred to as photons. Photons are the elementary particles that make up light, representing the quantum of electromagnetic radiation. In essence, photons are massless particles that carry energy, which is directly related to their frequency and wavelength.

When light travels, it behaves both like a wave and as a particle. This dual nature is key to understanding light's behavior in various contexts within physics. While it is true that light can be described using electromagnetic waves or as quanta, the specific term "photons" explicitly identifies these units of light energy, encapsulating the concept of light at the microscopic level.

Electromagnetic waves refers to the broader classification of all types of electromagnetic radiation, of which light is a part, but does not focus solely on the energy aspect. Similarly, while "quanta" can refer to discrete packets of energy, it can apply to other forms of energy beyond just light. The term "waves" describes the wave-like nature of light but does not specifically refer to the packets of energy that light consists of. Thus, "photons" is the most accurate term for describing light energy.