A microscope designed to obtain high-magnification cross-sectional [three-dimensional (3-D)] images by scanning the sample with the focused point of laser light, restricting the illumination to a tiny, targeted section of the specimen while eliminating out-of-focus light (confocal microscopy). The image data is detected, amplified, and usually digitized and displayed on a high resolution (typically 1024 x 1024 pixel) monitor. The data can be stored, e.g., in a computer. This microscope can be mounted on conventional or specially designed light microscopes, e.g., upright or inverted stage, and is mostly used for cell and molecular biology examinations, e.g., cells, cell cultures or tissue.