A laser pointer is a product that includes a small, inexpensive laser in a portable, pen-shaped format. Laser pointers, however, do not project a visible beam in normal, clear air - rather, their light is visible as a small point of light where the beam intersects a surface.

Most laser pointers use a red laser diode of 650 nm wave length. Slightly more expensive ones use the brighter, red-orange, 635 nm diode, giving them twice the visibility of their 650 nm counterparts due to the greater sensitivity of the human eye to the shorter wavelength. Other colors are possible too, with the 532 nm green laser being of the most common.

Blue laser pointers are not currently in production, due to the bulk of the diodes, and the lack of widespread mass production.

Laser pointers are used to highlight items of interest at some distance, for example during a presentation.

A laser pointer in operation.Laser pointers also make an excellent cat toy, as most cats have an irresistible urge to chase the light of a laser pointer projected on the ground and moved around though, the sudden disappearance of the toy often leaves the cat puzzled. Certain breeds of dogs (such as the various shepard breeds) will also chase the spot.

Laser pointers may also be affixed to pistols and carbines as an aiming aid - in this application the device is called a laser sight (laser site).

Like all lasers, laser pointers should never be projected directly into the eyes of a person or animal.

In the late 1990s, the laser pointer became a fad or toy amongst adolescent boys as an irritant to be pointed stealthily at a movie theater screen or even, dangerously, an offending party's eyes.