A bridge rectifier is an arrangement of four or more discreet diodes in a bridge circuit configuration which provides the same output polarity for either input polarity. Bridge rectifiers are used to convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). A bridge rectifier provides full-wave rectification from a two-wire AC input.
In addition to the converting of AC to DC, bridge rectifiers are also used to detect the amplitude of modulateed radio signals.