What type of current does a rectifier primarily output?

A rectifier primarily outputs pulsating direct current (DC). The primary function of a rectifier is to convert alternating current (AC) into direct current. However, this process does not produce pure DC but rather a form of DC that still has some fluctuation—hence the term "pulsating."

When AC is fed into a rectifier, it typically undergoes a process that reduces the negative portion of the waveform, resulting in a series of positive half-cycles that align with the direction of the positive output voltage. The resulting output is not completely smooth but displays a voltage that varies in amplitude, which is characterized as pulsating DC.

In contrast, pure DC would have a constant voltage level without any fluctuation, which is not the case with the output of most rectifiers. While some advanced rectifying circuits might smooth out this pulsating DC into a more steady DC output through filtration, this is not the basic function of a rectifier itself, thus reinforcing that the fundamental output is indeed pulsating DC.