A Triac behaves just like two conventional thyristors connected together in inverse parallel

(back-to-back) with respect to each other and because of this arrangement the two thyristors
share a common Gate terminal all within a single three-terminal package.
Since a triac conducts in both directions of a sinusoidal waveform, the concept of an Anode
terminal and a Cathode terminal used to identify the main power terminals of a thyristor are
replaced with identifications of:MT1, for Main Terminal 1 and MT2 for Main Terminal 2 with the
Gate terminal G referenced the same.
In most AC switching applications, the triac gate terminal is associated with the MT1 terminal,
similar to the gate-cathode relationship of the thyristor or the base-emitter relationship of the
transistor. The construction, P-N doping and schematic symbol used to represent a Triacis given
below.

Triac Symbol and Construction

Operation
We now know that a triac is a 4-layer, PNPN in the positive direction and a NPNP in the
negative direction, three-terminal bidirectional device that blocks current in its OFF state
acting like an open-circuit switch, but unlike a conventional thyristor, the triac can conduct
current in either direction when triggered by a single gate pulse. Then a triac has four possible
triggering modes of operation as follows.
+ Mode = MT2 current positive (+ve), Gate current positive (+ve)
Mode = MT2 current positive (+ve), Gate current negative (-ve)
+ Mode = MT2 current negative (-ve), Gate current positive (+ve)
Mode = MT2 current negative (-ve), Gate current negative (-ve)
And these four modes in which a triac can be operated are shown using the triacs I-V
characteristics curves.
In Quadrant , the triac is usually triggered into conduction by a positive gate current, labelled
above as mode +. But it can also be triggered by a negative gate current, mode . Similarly, in
Quadrant , triggering with a negative gate current, G is also common, mode along with
mode+. Modes and + are, however, less sensitive configurations requiring a greater
gate current to cause triggering than the more common triac triggering modes of + and .
Also, just like silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), triacs also require a minimum holding
current IH to maintain conduction at the waveforms cross over point. Then even though the two
thyristors are combined into one single triac device, they still exhibit individual electrical
characteristics such as different breakdown voltages, holding currents and trigger voltage levels
exactly the same as we would expect from a single SCR device.
The TRIAC is a three terminal semiconductor device for controlling current. It gains its name from
the term TRIode for Alternating Current.
It is effectively a development of the SCR or thyristor, but unlike the thyristor which is only able to
conduct in one direction, the TRIAC is a bidirectional device.

TRIAC / thyristor comparison

The TRIAC is an ideal device to use for AC switching applications because it can control the current
flow over both halves of an alternating cycle. A thyristor is only able to control them over one half of a
cycle. During the remaining half no conduction occurs and accordingly only half the waveform can
be utilised.

The fact that the TRIAC can be used to control current switching on both halves of an alternating
waveform allows much better power utilisation. However the TRIAC is not always as convenient for
some high power applications where its switching is more difficult.

TRIAC symbol
The circuit symbol recognises the way in which the TRIAC operates. Seen from the outside it may be
viewed as two back to back thyristors and this is what the circuit symbol indicates.

On the TRIAC symbol there are three terminals. These are the Gate and two other terminals are
often referred to as an "Anode" or "Main Terminal". As the TRIAC has two of these they are labelled
either Anode 1 and Anode 2 or Main Terminal, MT1 and MT2.

TRIAC basics
The TRIAC is a component that is effectively based on the thyristor. It provides AC switching for
electrical systems. Like the thyristor, the TRIACs are used in many electrical switching applications.
They find particular use for circuits in light dimmers, etc., where they enable both halves of the AC
cycle to be used. This makes them more efficient in terms of the usage of the power available. While
it is possible to use two thyristors back to back, this is not always cost effective for low cost and
relatively low power applications.
It is possible to view the operation of a TRIAC in terms of two thyristors placed back to back.

One of the drawbacks of the TRIAC is that it does not switch symmetrically. It will often have an
offset, switching at different gate voltages for each half of the cycle. This creates additional
harmonics which is not good for EMC performance and also provides an imbalance in the system
In order to improve the switching of the current waveform and ensure it is more symmetrical is to use
a device external to the TRIAC to time the triggering pulse. A DIAC placed in series with the gate is
the normal method of achieving this.