A chloroplast is a type of organelle known as a plastid, predominantly found in plant cells and algae. It is the site of photosynthesis, a process where light energy is converted into chemical energy, fueling the organism’s activities.

Both processes happen inside a chloroplast. This is a specialized structure, or organelle, in a plant cell. The structure contains stacks of membranes called thylakoid membranes. That’s where the light reaction begins. Chloroplasts are found in plant cells. This is where photosynthesis takes place.

The chloroplast, found only in algal and plant cells, is a cell organelle that produces energy through photosynthesis. The word chloroplast comes from the Greek words khloros, meaning “green”, and plastes, meaning “formed”.