A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat-panel display that uses small cells containing plasma to produce an image. Each cell functions as a tiny fluorescent lamp, emitting ultraviolet (UV) light when the gas is energized by an electric current. The UV light then strikes phosphor coatings on the inside of the cells, causing them to emit visible light in red, green, or blue. Plasma televisions were the first large flat-panel displays to be released to the public.