The reality is that there is no single definitive answer. The choice depends entirely on the application, the material, and the process requirements.  Each laser regime is designed to interact with matter through different physical mechanisms.

• A continuous laser (CW) delivers energy constantly, generating sustained heat transfer and a stable melt pool, which makes it particularly suitable for processes such as laser welding.
• A pulsed laser concentrates energy into extremely short bursts, reaching very high peak power densities and enabling precise material ablation with minimal thermal diffusion.
• The thermal dynamics change radically between a pulsed laser and a continuous laser.