Which component is commonly used to limit current in a circuit?

The component that is commonly used to limit current in a circuit is the resistor. Resistors are designed specifically to provide a certain amount of resistance to the flow of electric current. When current flows through a resistor, it creates a voltage drop across it, which effectively limits the amount of current that can pass through the circuit, according to Ohm's Law (V = I × R). By selecting resistors with specific resistance values, you can control the current flowing to other components, thereby protecting sensitive devices from excessive current that could cause damage.

In contrast, inductors and capacitors serve different primary functions in a circuit. Inductors store energy in a magnetic field and are mainly used to oppose changes in current, while capacitors store energy in an electric field and are typically used for voltage regulation and filtering. Diodes primarily allow current to flow in one direction and are utilized for rectification, not necessarily for current limiting. While they can provide some level of current control in specific applications (like in current-limiting circuits), they do not limit current as effectively or universally as resistors do.