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Diode

Webopedia Staff
Last Updated May 24, 2021 7:40 am
An electric component that conducts electric current in only one direction, functioning as a one-way valve. Diodes typically are made from semiconductor materials such as silicon, germanium or selenium and are uses as voltage regulators, signal rectifiers, oscillators and signal modulators/demodulators.

In computer equipment, diodes are commonly used to emit light by passing a current through it, as in light emitting diodes (LEDs).