A semiconductor electroluminescent device includes a body having a pair of spaced end surfaces, at least one of which is capable of emitting light generated in the body and a recombination region in the body extending from one end surface to the other end surface. The body also includes a pair of spaced contacting surfaces which are approximately perpendicular to the end surfaces. On one of the contacting surfaces is a stripe contact which includes a plurality of spaced, parallel electrically conductive sub-stripes extending from one of the end surfaces to the other end surface with insulation between the sub-stripes. The sub-stripes may be conductive films on the surface of the body or conductive regions within the body. The width of the sub-stripes and the spacing therebetween along the end surfaces, are such that the stripe contact provides a substantially uniform current density at the recombination region of the device.
