X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, similar to visible light, but with higher energy. They can pass through most objects, including the human body, and create images of internal tissues, bones, and organs on film or digital media. X-rays are widely used in medical diagnostics, such as checking for broken bones, and in material science, such as identifying some chemical elements and detecting weak points in construction materials.

When an X-ray is taken, the body is exposed to external radiation, which passes through the body and creates an image on an X-ray detector nearby. Different parts of the body allow varying amounts of the X-ray beams to pass through. Soft tissues in the body, such as blood, skin, fat, and muscle, allow most of the X-ray to pass through and appear dark gray on the film or digital media. A bone or a tumor, which is more dense than soft tissue, allows few of the X-rays to pass through and appears white on the X-ray.

X-rays are used to examine many parts of the body, including bones, teeth, joints, and organs. They are also used to diagnose conditions such as fractures, infections, arthritis, dental decay, and osteoporosis. Although X-rays use radiation, which can cause cancer and other health problems, there is a low risk of overexposure to radiation during an X-ray. Some X-rays use higher doses of radiation than others, but generally, X-rays are safe and effective for people of all ages.