Capacitors
Capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field and handle filtering and coupling. They hold charge thanks to a dielectric insulator between two conductive plates.
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Ceramic, electrolytic, tantalum, film and supercapacitors are the main types. Capacitance (farads), voltage rating, dielectric type (X7R, C0G) and ESR matter when choosing one. Power-supply filtering, signal coupling, timing and energy storage are the most common applications.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between electrolytic and ceramic capacitors?+
Electrolytic capacitors offer high capacitance but are polarized and must be connected the right way; ceramic capacitors are non-polarized, smaller in value and perform better at high frequency.
How do I choose a capacitor's voltage rating?+
The voltage rating should be at least 20-50% above the maximum voltage it will see in the circuit. Otherwise the dielectric breaks down and the capacitor fails.
What does a capacitor do in a circuit?+
It filters ripple on power rails (decoupling), blocks the DC component while passing AC (coupling), stores energy and creates delay in timing circuits.