In the semiconductor laser or electro-absorption optical modulator that includes strained quantum well layers as active layers, making laser characteristics or modulator characteristics adequate has seen the respective limits since band structures, especially, .DELTA.Ec and .DELTA.Ev, have been unable to be adjusted independently.This invention is constructed by stacking an n-type InGaAlAs-GRIN-SCH layer 3, an MQW layer 4, a p-type InGaAlAs-GRIN-SCH layer 5, a p-type InAlAs electron-stopping layer 6, and others, in that order, on an n-type InP wafer 1; wherein the MQW layer 4 includes InGaAlAs-strained quantum well layers and InGaAlAsSb-formed barrier layers each having strain of an opposite sign to the strain applied to the quantum well layers.