An edge emitting laser that emits a single mode using photonic mirrors. An edge emitting laser includes an active region that is formed between an n-type semiconductor material and a p-type semiconductor material. Photonic mirrors are formed in the laser to define a gain cavity and an external cavity. The gain cavity is bounded by a cleaved facet and a photonic mirror or by a pair of photonic mirrors. The external cavity is bounded by the photonic mirror of the gain cavity and either a cleaved facet or another photonic mirror. The mode emitted by the laser is determined by characteristics of the photonic mirrors, including the periodic cavity structures of the mirrors.