At a glance
- The main lighter types are soft-flame (traditional flint or piezo), torch/jet (pressurized blue flame), electric/arc (plasma arc, no fuel), and disposable vs. refillable.
- Soft-flame lighters produce a yellow diffusion flame. Torch lighters produce a focused blue premixed flame using pressurized butane.
- Refillable lighters use butane gas and can be refueled through a fill valve. Disposable lighters are discarded when the fuel runs out.
- Electric arc lighters use a rechargeable battery to create a plasma arc between two electrodes — no flame, no fuel.
- Matches produce flame from a chemical reaction when the match head is struck against a friction surface.