Dioode

Dioode is not a distinct electronic component; it is a common misspelling of diode, the two-terminal device used widely in electronics. There is no separate part officially named dioode. This article therefore describes the standard diode and notes that dioode is a spelling error.

A diode conducts current primarily in one direction. Its current–voltage relationship is nonlinear: in forward bias, it allows significant current once a threshold voltage is exceeded; in reverse bias, it blocks current with only a small leakage. In schematic diagrams the diode symbol typically shows a triangle pointing to a bar, with conventional current flowing from the triangle side (anode) to the bar side (cathode).

Diodes come in several families. PN-junction diodes use silicon or germanium to form the p–n junction. Schottky diodes use a metal–semiconductor contact and provide very low forward voltage and fast switching. Zener diodes are designed to regulate voltage in reverse bias. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emit light when forward biased. Photodiodes respond to light, and varactor diodes are used for tuning circuits. Each type has characteristic forward voltage, reverse leakage, and switching speed suitable for different applications.

Common applications include rectification in power supplies, signal demodulation, voltage regulation, and protection against voltage spikes (as in transient voltage suppression diodes). Diodes are also used in clipping, clamping, and sensing circuits, and in optoelectronic or photonic devices.

Key specifications cover maximum forward current, maximum reverse voltage, forward voltage drop, and switching or recovery times. Diodes remain fundamental components in both analog and digital electronics, with many variants tailored to specific needs.