A type-2 phaser is a typical hand-held, directed-energy weapon used by Starfleet and United Federation of Planets personnel during the 23rd and 24th and the 29th century.

They were developed and subsequently replaced the laser pistols by 2254. More powerful than the type 1 phaser, type 2 phasers were kept aboard Starfleet and Federation starships, starbases, space stations and at planetary facilities. In the nearly two hundred years since their introduction to Starfleet personnel, several models and makes have been observed.

Utilized primarily in defensive situations, the phaser type-2 had several applications, from use as a weapon to use as a cutting tool, explosive device, or energy source. They had multiple settings, ranging from mild stun to disintegration.

In addition type-2s can be set for a narrow (affecting a single target) or "wide" beam (affecting two or more targets over a certain area). The frequency of the beam may also be adjusted to make it more effective against certain types of shields and/or force fields. Type 2 phasers could also cause severe to deadly phaser burns.