How is the cathode lead of a semiconductor diode often marked on the package?

On a physical semiconductor diode, the cathode (the negative terminal) is almost universally indicated by a painted band or stripe on one end of the cylindrical package. This helps builders quickly identify the proper orientation of the diode for circuit assembly, as diodes only allow current to flow in one direction. This physical stripe directly corresponds to the straight line drawn across the point of the triangle in the diode's electronic schematic symbol. Component packages are generally too small to print full words like 'cathode,' and using letters like 'C' or 'K' is not the standard industry convention for marking polarity.