Directed energy weapon
A directed energy weapon was a weapon that inflicted damage via a beam or pulse of electromagnetic radiation, high-energy particles, or more exotic forms of energy. In most space-faring civilizations, directed energy weaponry had replaced projectile weapons, which tended to be regarded as more "primitive". The most common types of directed energy weapon are phasers and disruptors, though a wide range of other energy-based weapons have also been developed. (Star Trek)

In the Alpha Quadrant, subspace weapons such as isolytic bursts were forbidden by the Khitomer Accords. ()

Advanced weapons existed, in the forms of the planet-destroying antiproton beam mounted on the so-called "planet killer". Federation technology had very little to match this technology when faced with one such weapon in 2267. () The Xindi weapon was another planet-killer utilizing a directed-energy beam, but it was destroyed before the Sphere-Builders, manipulating the Xindi, had an opportunity to complete their plan by using the device on Earth. (; ENT Season 3)

The Ennis, a Gamma Quadrant species, stopped using directed energy centuries before 2369, as it was, in Golin Shel-la's words, "not damaging enough". ()

The Andorians of the Andorian Imperial Guard in the 22nd century used hand-held pistols beside their rifles which they carried in holsters. ()

The Nausicaans of the 22nd century used hand-held directed energy weapons. In August of 2151, a group of Nausicaan pirates was armed with these type of weapon. They had holsters for these weapons and used them to attack the crew of the  and to break a door lock. ()

Directed energy weapons

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de:Energiewaffe