8mm RGB LED can work like a white led. Because there have red, green and blue LED chip together inside the 8mm LED package. As we know, these are the three primary colors of light. With three of these color, the through-hole LED will be able to emits any kind of color. As long we can control those 4 pins on the bottom of Through-hole LED by operation current. So we can also emit the white color from this RGB LED.
Then what is the difference between 8mm RGB LED and the White LED?
White light LED is obviously inferior to 8mm RGB LED in clarity and color purity. In addition, the problem of light attenuation makes 8mm RGB LED more advantageous.
Although expensive, but relatively speaking, the quality is better.
For the 8mm RGB LED, the lens can be 8mm round RGB LED, 8mm Straw hat RGB LED, 8mm pointed top RGB LED and 8mm round LED without flange RGB LED.
And the color of lens can be water clear or diffused(some people also name it as milky lens). The former has a strong spotlight, and the later lens will make people feels soft.