Final answer:
Mirrors are the component of a laser that selects the direction of the light when the active material generates spontaneous emission, resulting in good directionality of the laser.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a laser, the component that selects the direction of the light when the active material begins to generate spontaneous emission is called a mirror. The mirrors are used to enhance the probability of stimulated emission by passing photons through the material multiple times. One of the mirrors is semitransparent to allow some of the light to pass through, resulting in good directionality of the laser.