Which component is used to store electrical energy in a circuit?

The component used to store electrical energy in a circuit is the capacitor. Capacitors function by storing energy in the form of an electric field created between two conductive plates separated by an insulating material (dielectric). When voltage is applied across the plates, the capacitor accumulates charge, and this stored energy can later be released back into the circuit when needed.

Capacitors are integral in various applications, such as smoothing out voltage fluctuations in power supplies, starting motors, and coupling signals between stages of an electronic circuit. Their ability to quickly charge and discharge makes them vital in timing applications and filtering out interference.

Other options like resistors are used to limit current flow, inductors store energy in a magnetic field, and semiconductors are materials used to control the flow of current rather than store energy. Each of these components plays distinct roles in electrical circuits, but only capacitors serve the primary function of storing electrical energy.