What is the primary function of a capacitor in an electric circuit?

The primary function of a capacitor in an electric circuit is to store energy. Capacitors can hold an electric charge, and this stored energy can be released when needed to maintain circuit functions. They are particularly useful for smoothing out fluctuations in power supply, filtering signals, and providing short bursts of energy to circuits when required.

Capacitors work by accumulating and holding electrical energy in an electric field created between two conductive plates, separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. The ability to store energy allows capacitors to play crucial roles in various applications, such as timing circuits, power supply systems, and energy storage for power conditioning.

This understanding of capacitors being energy storage devices is key to grasping how they contribute to the functioning and stability of electric circuits, while the other options refer to different functionalities that do not align with the primary role of a capacitor.