The present technology provides a surface emitting element capable of enabling highly accurate detection of an optical characteristic of an emitted light and/or enabling adjustment of the optical characteristic of the emitted light. The surface emitting element of the present technology provides a surface emitting element including a light emitting layer, a characteristic layer that is disposed on an optical path of light generated in the light emitting layer, exhibits an electrical characteristic due to light incidence, and/or has variability in an optical characteristic due to voltage application, and a plurality of electrodes provided on the characteristic layer.