What role do capacitors play in electronic circuits?

Capacitors serve a crucial role in electronic circuits by storing and releasing electrical energy. When a voltage is applied across a capacitor, it accumulates charge and can hold electrical energy in the form of an electric field. This stored energy can then be released back into the circuit when needed, allowing the capacitor to smooth out fluctuations in voltage, provide power quickly during transient events, and maintain stable power supply in various applications.

This behavior is integral to many electronic applications, such as filtering signals in power supplies, timing applications in oscillators, and aiding in the stabilization of voltage in circuits. Capacitors function differently than resistors, which dissipate energy as heat, or inductors, which store energy in a magnetic field, emphasizing their unique contribution to managing electrical energy flow within circuits.