What is an inductor?

An inductor is a passive electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when an electric current flows through it. When current passes through the coil of wire that makes up the inductor, a magnetic field is generated around it. This property allows inductors to store energy, which can be released back into the circuit when the current decreases or stops. Inductors play crucial roles in various applications, such as filtering, energy storage, and signal processing, in electronic circuits.

Understanding this concept is essential because it highlights the fundamental difference between capacitors and inductors—while capacitors store energy in an electric field, inductors store energy in a magnetic field, impacting how they are used in circuits.