What is capacitance in the context of electricity?

Capacitance refers to the ability of a system to store an electric charge. This property is essential in understanding how capacitors function in electrical circuits. When a voltage is applied across a capacitor, it accumulates charge on its plates, creating an electric field. The amount of charge stored is proportional to the voltage applied and the capacitance value, allowing capacitors to store energy for later use. This ability to temporarily hold electric charge plays a critical role in various applications, such as in smoothing voltage fluctuations or in timing circuits. Understanding capacitance is fundamental in both basic electrical theory and practical applications involving capacitors.