The name TRIAC comes from the word TRIode

for Alternating Current.

TRIAC is a thyristor, a four layer device, that is a
reversed parallel pair of SCRs.
i.e. It is actually composed of two different SCRs
connected in parallel and in opposite direction. The
formal name of a TRIAC is bidirectional triode
thyristor. The name itself indicates that a TRIAC can
allow current to flow within its leads in any direction.
This makes a TRIAC more suitable than an SCR when
AC voltage needs to be controlled.

The TRIAC has no forward or reverse polarity: The

TRIAC has no Anode or Cathode pin that needs to be
connected reverse or forward in order to allow current to
flow within the device. Once a pulse is applied to the gate
of the TRIAC, it shall become conductive and shall allow
current to flow from the bias no matter what the polarity is.
The TRIAC can become conductive with both positive
or negative pulses: A TRIAC becomes conductive with
both positive or negative pulses. As mentioned in the
previous point, it has no polarity and therefore the polarity
of the pulse on the gate is irrelevant. It only needs to be
greater than the gate threshold voltage to turn on the
TRIAC.