Which electrical component is used to store energy in an electric field?

The component that is used to store energy in an electric field is the capacitor. Capacitors work by accumulating charge on their plates when a voltage is applied across them; this accumulation of charge forms an electric field between the plates. When the capacitor is discharged, the stored energy can be released back into the circuit. This capability to store and release energy makes capacitors essential in various applications, including smoothing out voltage fluctuations in power supplies and providing timing elements in circuits.

Other components listed have different functions. Resistors, for instance, are designed to impede the flow of electric current and convert electrical energy into heat, rather than store energy. Transformers are used to change the voltage level in alternating current (AC) circuits but do not store energy; they operate based on magnetic fields rather than electric fields. Inductors store energy in a magnetic field generated by the flow of current but do not utilize an electric field for storage. Thus, the capacitor is uniquely suited to the function of storing energy specifically in an electric field.