You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't heard of vaping. From its original purpose of helping cigarette addicts to kick the habit to the newer craze teenagers have adopted, they are indeed everywhere.

But despite everyone having heard of what they are, do you actually know how they work and what goes on in those little machines you're putting in your mouth?

What Is Vaping?

Vaping has been marketed as a "healthier" – or less harmful – alternative to smoking cigarettes. While you can get nicotine-free vapes, the main selling point is not about nicotine but about all the other chemicals you find in traditional cigarettes. Most vapes provide you with a nicotine hit and hold on the rest of the substances. Regardless of whether they are healthier, they are certainly having a moment.

Operationally, they work in a similar way to cigarettes, which has been a significant part of their success. Where the nicotine patches helped give the hit, it didn't help with the habit of inhaling. Vaping provides both. For examples of vaping equipment, check out ca.relxnow.com.

How Does Vaping Work?

So, how do vape pens actually work?

Essentially, the act of inhaling (or taking a puff) from the e-cigarette activates a battery-powered heating device in the pen - or mod. That, in turn, vaporizes the liquid inside - which has all the nicotine and flavor in it - providing the aerosol that the user breathes in.

In some of the larger mod-style vapes, you'll find the heating devices and coils are customizable. That means you can make changes to your vape to be as powerful and vape-inducing as you like.

How Has the Technology Evolved?

Vaping arrived in the United States sometime around 2006. The levels of nicotine available were low, and the efficiency of the devices themselves was not excellent, either.

Since then, though, the technology has made leaps and bounds. We mentioned the ability to customize some of the larger vape pens - well, that includes things like the battery and heating elements. And, of course, we can't leave out the fact that the industry itself has boomed with thousands of flavor options now available.

Whether you want a disposable one-time hit or a lifelong nicotine provider, the technology of vaping has evolved significantly.

What Will Be Next in Vaping Technology?

It's hard to predict where technology will take vaping next. One thing is for sure, though: it doesn't seem to be slowing down and governmental regulations seem to be struggling to keep up with the ever-changing innovation.

Watch this space for updates as and when they come.