mirror

glass

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

A mirror is a polished surface that reflects light according to the law of reflection. This means light bounces off the surface at an angle equal to the angle at which it strikes.12

Modern mirrors are typically made of glass coated on the back with a reflective metal like aluminum or silver. This smooth, reflective surface is crucial for creating clear images without scattering light. Mirrors can have flat (plane) or curved surfaces. Plane mirrors produce images that are the same size as the object, while curved mirrors can magnify (concave) or reduce (convex) images. The float process is a common method for producing the flat glass used in mirrors.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

industrial glass
Strength and fracturing
…semicircular shiny surface called the mirror. The radius of the mirror is inversely related to the fracture stress and, hence, is indicative of the violence of the fracture. (For instance, a thermal fracture generally produces a large mirror, whereas a mechanical fracture often displays a small mirror.) The edges of…
Read More
…semicircular shiny surface called the mirror. The radius of the mirror is inversely related to the fracture stress and, hence, is indicative of the violence of the fracture. (For instance, a thermal fracture generally produces a large mirror, whereas a mechanical fracture often displays a small mirror.) The edges of…
Read More