Thyristors are primarily designed to amplify and rectify the electrical currents that flow in high-powered electronic devices. A thyristor's four layers consist of a series of N and P-type material that connect with the anode, cathode and a logic gate. When a current is applied at the gate, the thyristor allows an amplified current to flow form anode to cathode.

Although thrysitors can only transmit currents in one direction, they have three different operating modes: reverse blocking, forward blocking and forward conducting.