A capacitor stores electrical energy by accumulating and storing an electric charge on its two conductive plates, which are separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the capacitor, electrons accumulate on one plate while an equal number of electrons are removed from the other plate, creating an electric field between the plates.
When the capacitor is connected in a circuit, it can release the stored electrical energy by discharging the accumulated charge when the circuit is closed. The electrons flow from one plate to the other, creating an electric current that can power a device or perform work in the circuit.
