How rectifiers change alternating current to direct current?

A rectifier is an electronic device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses direction, into direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction. It achieves this by using components like diodes that allow current to pass through in one direction only, effectively blocking the reverse flow of the AC signal. This process, called rectification, results in a pulsating DC output that can then be smoothed using capacitors to produce a more stable DC voltage.