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

The component that is used to store electrical energy in an electric field is the capacitor. A capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field is created, and the capacitor stores energy in that field. This stored energy can later be released back into the circuit when needed, making capacitors essential in various applications, such as filtering, timing, and power supply circuits.

Inductors, while they store energy, do so in a magnetic field rather than an electric field. Resistors do not store energy; instead, they dissipate energy in the form of heat as current flows through them. Semiconductors are materials with electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators and are used primarily for signal amplification and electronic switching, not specifically for energy storage.