The most common function of a diode is to allow an electric current to pass in one direction (called the diode's
forward direction), while blocking current in the opposite direction (the
reverse direction). Thus, the diode can be thought of as an electronic version of a
check valve. This unidirectional behavior is called
rectification, and is used to convert
alternating current to
direct current, and to extract
modulation from radio signals in radio receivers.
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