At low reverse voltages a Zener diode behaves in a similar manner to an ordinary silicon diode, that is, it passes only a very small leakage current. If, however, the reverse bias is increased until it reaches the breakdown region, then a small reverse voltage increase causes a considerable increase in leakage current; the reverse current is then called the Zener current. The characteristics of a Zener diode operating under reverse breakdown conditions are similar to those of a struck glow discharge tube. Because of this, Zener diodes can be used in a similar way, i. e. as stabilizers, limiters, ripple reduction elements, reference voltage sources, and also as DC coupling elements with a constant voltage drop.