A diode allows only current flow in one direction under normal operation. Exceed the operating voltage and it can break down allowing bi-directional flow.
The breakdown voltage of a diode is the minimum voltage at which it conducts in both directions. If you have a 100-volt rectifier diode (1N4002) and you wire it into a 110v circuit, it will flow current in both directions and you'll get no rectification.
the main function of the diode is to allow current to flow in just one direction and oppose the flow of current in negative direction.In short diode rectifies the current..
When a diode is operated as reverse bias the current flow is almost completely blocked. A small amount of current is still able to travel in reverse through the diode and this is referred to as the reverse current saturation.
An ideal diode would match the purpose of a diode without any of the drawbacks. The purpose of a diode is to control current flow - The diode "turns on" for current flowing in one direction, and "turns off" if current wants to flow in the other direction. Ideally, there would be no voltage drop across this diode when allowing current flow, thus no power loss. When the diode is "turned off" by a negative voltage, idealy there would be no current flow (no matter how large the negative voltage).
The anode is the arrow shaped end, while the cathode is the bar shaped end. You can remember this by recalling that current flows from anode to cathode in an ordinary diode; well, that is, if you use the trick of assuming that current is hole flow, rather than electron flow, a useful and common convention. The exception, of course, is the zener diode, where current flows in both directions, but at different potentials. In this case, there are two 45 degree angled bars at the end of the cathode symbol, and the normal configuration of current flow is cathode to anode, backwards with respect to an ordinary diode.