Which term describes the lighting or brightness reflected from a surface?

The correct term that describes the lighting or brightness reflected from a surface is reflectance. Reflectance refers to the proportion of light that is reflected by a surface when it is illuminated. Different materials have varying levels of reflectance, which can affect the overall brightness in an environment.

This concept is important in fields such as facility management, architecture, and interior design, where the play of light and shadow significantly impacts space use and aesthetics. Understanding reflectance helps professionals design spaces that make optimal use of both natural and artificial lighting, contributing to energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

While glare refers to excessive brightness that can cause visual discomfort, ambient lighting describes the overall illumination level in a space, and lumens measure the total amount of visible light emitted by a source, none of these terms accurately capture the specific action of light being reflected from a surface.