Capacitor
What a capacitor does, the main types and where each is used, how they combine in series and parallel, and the mistakes that make them fail.
Questions people ask
Why put a small capacitor next to every chip?
Decoupling. The chip draws current in fast bursts that the supply cannot follow, so a local capacitor provides them and keeps the rail from dipping.
Can I replace a capacitor with a higher voltage rating?
Yes, that is always safe — it is a maximum, not a target. Changing the capacitance is what alters circuit behaviour.
Does this page work offline?
Yes, after the first visit. The service worker caches it, so the reference stays available with no connection.
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Last updated 22 August 2026