High-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and high-brightness LEDs have revolutionized the lighting industry. The availability of cost-effective LEDs with high luminous flux, efficacy, and reliability has expanded their application to replace incandescent and fluorescent light sources. They have also enabled many new applications that were considered infeasible before, due to the inherent limitations of traditional sources of light. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of ac- and dc-supplied LED lighting systems and their applications, corresponding specifications and their similarities to/differences from regular power supplies. Restrictions imposed by LEDs characteristics, safety considerations, and dimmers are discussed. Also, LED driving approaches are categorized and their suitability for different applications is provided.