What do we call objects that produce visible light?

Objects that produce visible light are referred to as luminous. This term specifically describes any source that emits its own light, such as the sun, light bulbs, or fireflies. Luminous objects generate light through various processes, such as incandescence (heat-generated light) or fluorescence (light emitted as a result of absorbing radiation).

The other terms describe different properties of materials. Opaque materials do not let light pass through, meaning they absorb or reflect light instead of transmitting it. Translucent objects allow some light to pass through but scatter it, resulting in a blurred image. Reflective surfaces do not produce their own light but instead reflect light from luminous sources.