Cathode

A cathode is the electrode from which a conventional current leaves a polarized electrical
device. This definition is sometimes remembered using the mnemonic CCD for cathode current
departs. A conventional current describes the direction in which positive electronic charges
move. Electrons have a negative charge, so the movement of electrons is opposite to the
conventional current flow. Consequently, the mnemonic cathode current departs also means that
electrons flow into the device's cathode.
Cathode polarity with respect to the anode can be positive or negative; it depends on how the
device operates. Although positively charged cations always move towards the cathode (hence
their name) and negatively charged anions move away from it, cathode polarity depends on the
device type, and can even vary according to the operating mode (such as in a rechargeable
battery cell). In a device which consumes power, the cathode is negative, and in a device which
provides power, the cathode is positive:

Anode

An anode is an electrode through which electric current flows into a polarized electrical device.
A common mnemonic is ACID for "Anode Current Into Device". [1] The direction of electric
current is opposite to the direction of electron flow: electrons flow through the anode to the
outside circuit.
The polarity of voltage on an anode with respect to an associated cathode varies depending on
the device type and on its operating mode. In the following examples, the anode is positive in a
device that consumes power, and the anode is negative in a device that provides power:

In a discharging battery or galvanic cell (diagram at right), the anode is the negative
terminal because it is where the current flows into "the device" (i.e. the battery cell). This
inward current is carried externally by electrons moving outwards, negative charge
moving one way constituting positive current flowing the other way.

In a recharging battery, or an electrolytic cell, the anode is the positive terminal, which
receives current from an external generator. The current through a recharging battery is
opposite to the direction of current during discharge; in other words, the electrode which
was the cathode during battery discharge becomes the anode while the battery is
recharging.

In a diode, the anode is the positive terminal at the tail of the arrow symbol (flat side of
the triangle), where current flows into the device. Note electrode naming for diodes is
always based on the direction of the forward current (that of the arrow, in which the
current flows "most easily"), even for types such as Zener diodes or solar cells where the
current of interest is the reverse current.

In a cathode ray tube, the anode is the positive terminal where electrons flow out of the
device, i.e., where positive electric current flows in