When sunlight or other bright light shines onto the mirror, the mirror appears to become transparent. If that light is reflected from the mirror onto a wall, the pattern on the back of the mirror is then projected onto the wall.

A modern "magic mirror" (or smart mirror) is an illusion created by a two-way glass mirror placed over a high-contrast LCD or OLED display screen. Behind the scenes, a computer—often a small device like a Raspberry Pi—runs a software interface that generates text, weather updates, or interactive graphics. The glass is semi-transparent; when the screen behind it displays white text on a black background, the light from the white text passes through the glass, while the black areas remain reflective, creating the "floating text" effect. In 2026, advanced magic mirrors in retail stores also use Augmented Reality (AR) and cameras to "overlay" virtual clothing or makeup onto your reflection in real-time. This allows customers to "try on" different colors or styles without actually changing clothes, bridging the gap between physical reality and digital convenience in a single reflective surface.