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Diodes are frequently referred to by their function in a circuit rather than their parameters or part number.

Two examples are parts ordered as free- wheeling diodes or as steering diodes. These terms do not specify a required diode at all, only a functional use of the diode.

Steering diode:A Steering circuit usually involves 2 diodes. A signal to the diode network simply backbiases one diode and enables the other, resulting in steering the signal to the enabled path.

The diodes used in this application must be specified in the usual way by its voltage, current,switching speed,etc.

Free-wheeling diode: A so called free wheeling diode is used to protect circuit components from an inductor (coil, transformer relay coil, etc.). A large negative voltage can develop when the current is interrupted in an inductor :

That voltage is given by:V = -Ldi/dt. This large voltage has nowhere to go and so can result in circuit damages. One solution is to place a diode in parallel with the inductance in order to supply a path for the voltage/energy to dissipate through the coil resistance.Once again the voltage,current,and switching speed of the diode must be specified. Specifying just a "free- wheeling" diode is insufficient.