JIS semiconductor designation


has standard JIS-C-7012 for semiconductor part numbers. The first digit denotes the p-n junction count ; then follows the letter "S", then:
2nd letterType of semiconductor
Diode
Ahigh frequency PNP BJTs
Baudio frequency PNP BJTs
Chigh frequency NPN BJTs
Daudio frequency NPN BJTs
EDiode
FThyristor
GGunn diode
HUJT
JP-channel FETs
KN-channel FETs
MTRIAC
QLED
RRectifier
SSignal diode
TAvalanche diode
VVaricap
ZZener Diode

Then follows the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association's Electronic DEvice REgistration Center -assigned part number, optionally followed by suffixes to denote variants, such as tighter hFE groupings.
Example: 2SD965, but sometimes the "2S" prefix is not marked on the package – a 2SD965 might only be marked "D965"; a 2SC1815 might be listed by a supplier as simply "C1815", thus possibly creating confusion with Pro Electron abbreviated markings, because a transistor marked "D965" might either be a 2SD965 or a BD965.