inductor

This term describes a component that resists changes in current, acting as a sort of electrical inertia. It is most commonly used in technical engineering contexts to describe the hardware responsible for smoothing power or tuning radio frequencies. While a capacitor stores energy in an electric field, an inductor does so via a magnetic field. This distinction is vital in power electronics, where inductors are used to block AC while allowing DC to pass, creating a stable flow of energy.