What the 17.5 mOhm Rds(on) means for your switching design
Date-code provenance matters here: stock surfacing years after the official EOL should be inspected for counterfeits, especially on a high-volume IRFZ44 series part.
Package and temperature range — design-in fit
Housed in a TO-262-3 (I²Pak) through-hole package with long leads, the IRFZ44NL is a direct-fit replacement for TO-220AB footprints where the tab is isolated or the board layout calls for a vertical mount with the drain tab on the back side.
