Capacitor
This article is about the device. For the physical phenomenon, see capacitance. For an overview of various kinds of capacitors, see types of capacitor. "Capacitive" redirects here. For the term used when referring to touchscreens, see capacitive sensing. Capacitor Type Passive Invented Ewald Georg von Kleist Electronic symbol A capacitor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores potential energy in an electric field. The effect of a capacitor is known as capacitance. While some capacitance exists between any two electrical conductors in proximity in a circuit, a capacitor is a component designed to add capacitance to a circuit. The capacitor was originally known as a condenser or condensator . [1] The original name is still widely used in many languages, but not in English. The physical form and construction of practical capacitors vary widely and many capacitor types are in common use. Most capacitors contain at least two electrica...