A 3-way lamp, also known as a tri-light, is a lamp that uses a 3-way light bulb to produce three levels of light in a low-medium-high configuration. A 3-way lamp requires a 3-way bulb and socket, and a 3-way switch.
In 3-way incandescent light bulbs, each of the filaments operates at full voltage. Lamp bulbs with dual carbon filaments were built as early as 1902 to allow adjustable lighting levels.
Certain compact fluorescent lamp bulbs are designed to replace 3-way incandescent bulbs, and have an extra contact and circuitry to dim to a similar light level. In recent years, LED 3-way bulbs have become available as well.