The L298P can handle a maximum current of 2A per channel, but it's recommended to keep it below 1.5A for reliable operation.
You can use a flyback diode (also known as a freewheeling diode) in parallel with the motor to protect the L298P from back-EMF. The diode should be rated for the maximum voltage and current of the motor.
The enable pins (EN1 and EN2) are used to enable or disable the corresponding motor channels. When the enable pin is high, the channel is enabled, and when it's low, the channel is disabled.
You can control the speed of the motor by using a PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) signal on the input pins (IN1 and IN2 for channel 1, and IN3 and IN4 for channel 2). The duty cycle of the PWM signal determines the motor speed.
The L298P requires a minimum voltage of 5V to operate, but it's recommended to use a voltage between 5V and 24V for reliable operation.