Capacitor
Measured in farads (F), usually µF or nF
A capacitor stores a small amount of electrical charge and releases it quickly.
Electrolytic capacitors have + and − legs (the stripe is −) and can burst if connected backwards. Ceramic ones (like 104 = 100 nF) have no direction.
They block steady DC but let changing signals through, which is why they're used for filtering and timing.
Lessons
Words to know
Everything on this subject: Capacitors, Simplified

