A semiconductor laser has a semiconductor body with first and second main areas, preferably each provided with a contact area, and also first and second mirror areas. An active layer and a current-carrying layer are formed between the main areas. The current-carrying layer has at least one strip-type resistance region, which runs transversely with respect to the resonator axis and whose sheet resistivity is increased at least in partial regions compared with the regions of the current-carrying layer that adjoin the resistance region.