Question

Why is a “Diode” called so?

Answer 1

Diode:

1. It is a semiconductor device generally made of either germanium or silicon.
2. It allows the current to flow only in one direction.
3. It has very low(almost zero) resistance in one direction and very high(almost infinite) resistance in another direction.
4. They are used as rectifiers which are used to convert AC to DC
5. It comprises two terminals which are typically the electrodes: Anode and Cathode.

Since a device possesses two electrodes as its terminals, it is called a ‘diode’.