In some applications a flyback diode is added parallel to the load. Is that because the switching causes reverse voltage for inductive loads? What if we have a resistive load instead? Do we still need to take care of switching? In the below figure there is a read switch operating on an inductive load. Would we still need it if the load were nothing but a resistor?
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/nrlw3.jpg)