A rectifier is an electrical device that uses one or more P-N junction diodes to convert an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC).
This current flowing through the diode is a direct current (DC). As a result, the P-N junction diode converts AC current to DC current, acting as a rectifier. A basic rectifier (half wave rectifier) produces a DC current, however it is not a pure DC current. It is a pulsating DC current. Pulsating direct current is a type of DC current in which the value varies frequently. The pulsating DC current begins at zero and gradually increases to the maximum forward current (peak level) before decreasing to zero. However, unlike AC current, pulsing DC current does not change direction periodically.
