Gate drive optocouplers are generally used to control power elements in electronic systems. These power elements can be generally large power electric motors or power elements, diodes, transistors and similar components. Gate driver optocouplers ensure that these power elements are connected separately from the power supplies and therefore these components are used to avoid damaging the power supplies.

Gate driver optocouplers are classified according to their various properties. For example, they can be classified by power and timing. When classified as power, optocouplers are classified according to their heat and power level, and when classified according to timing, the optocouplers are classified according to the frequency of their light signals. These features determine whether optocouplers are suitable for different purposes.