“A capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores and releases electrical energy in an electric field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field develops between them, allowing the capacitor to store energy in the form of an electrostatic field.

Capacitors come in various shapes and sizes, and they are used in electronic circuits for a multitude of purposes. They can filter or smooth electrical signals, block direct current while allowing alternating current to pass (as in coupling and decoupling circuits), store energy temporarily, and control timing in circuits, among other functions.”