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Takaisinheijastdiffraatio, or retroreflection, is an optical phenomenon where light is reflected directly back towards its source. This occurs when a surface is designed to reflect incident light in a way that it returns along the same path it came from, regardless of the angle of incidence.

The most common form of retroreflection is achieved using a retroreflector, often a spherical or prismatic device. Spherical retroreflectors consist of a cluster of tiny glass beads, each acting as a small lens. Light enters a bead, refracts, reflects off the back surface, and refracts again as it exits, directing it back towards the source. Prismatic retroreflectors use three mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces to achieve the same effect, often more efficiently.

Retroreflection is widely used in various applications due to its ability to enhance visibility, especially at night or in low-light conditions. Examples include safety markings on roads, clothing for cyclists and construction workers, traffic signs, and license plates. In these contexts, retroreflective materials make objects appear much brighter when illuminated by a light source, such as headlights, thereby increasing safety. The principle is also applied in scientific instruments and surveying.