What is a diode?
The primary purpose of diodes is to allow electrical current to flow in only one direction.
The primary purpose for power diodes is as components of power supplies that are used to convert AC (Alternating Current) line voltage (from the wall socket) into DC (Direct Current) to power an electronic device.
Diodes are typically rated based on 2 numbers:
(1)Maximum current they can carry
(2)The maximum reverse voltage they can withstand (also called PIV or Peak Inverse Voltage)