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Inductor

maker

An inductor is a passive electronic component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electrical current flows through it.

expanded

Inductors are commonly used in electronic circuits to manage current and voltage, filter signals, and store energy. Their ability to oppose changes in current makes them essential in power supply circuits, signal processing, and RF applications. Inductors are characterized by their inductance, measured in henries (H), which determines their ability to store energy.

examples

A 10 microhenry (µH) surface-mount power inductor used in a DC-DC converter circuit.

This inductor is often found in step-down (buck) converters, which are used to efficiently reduce voltage levels in power supply modules for devices like laptops and mobile phones.

A 100 millihenry (mH) ferrite core inductor used in filter applications.

This type is commonly employed in low-pass LC filters to remove high-frequency noise from audio signals in professional sound equipment.

related terms

Inductance
Inductance is the property of an electrical conductor by which a change in current generates an electromotive force (EMF) in the conductor itself and in any nearby conductors due to electromagnetic induction.
Inverter
An inverter is an electrical device that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).
Capacitor
A capacitor is a passive electrical component that stores energy in an electric field.
Resistor
A resistor is a passive electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element.
Impedance
Impedance is the measure of opposition that a circuit presents to a current when a voltage is applied.