In wave optics, light waves are transverse in nature. This means that the vibrating amplitudes of the wave are perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave, to restrict the vibrations in a plane is the phenomenon called the polarization of light.
A polariser is used to increase intensity of light.
A polarizing filter transmits only the component of the wave parallels to its axis while reducing the intensity of any light not polarized parallel to its axis. Only the component of the EM wave that is parallel to the axis of a filter is passed. A polarise is used to produce polarized light and a Nicol prism is used to produce polarised light.