Nightlight

People usually use nightlights for the sense of security which having a light on provides, or to relieve fear of the dark, especially in young children.

[1] Some frequent travelers carry small nightlights for temporary installation in their guestroom and bathroom, to avoid tripping or falls in an unfamiliar nighttime environment.

The neon versions consumed very little energy and had a long life, but had a tendency to flicker on and off (reminiscent of a candle), which some users liked and others found annoying.

Other designs also feature a built-in passive infrared sensor to detect motion, and only switch on when somebody is passing by in the dark.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, or UCPSC, reports it receives about 10 reports per year where nightlights close to flammable materials were cited as responsible for fires; they recommend the use of nightlights with LED bulbs cooler than the four or seven watt incandescent light bulbs still used in some older products.