47nF 630VDC Polyester Capacitor

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

capacitance

Capacitance is the amount of electrical charge a capacitor can store, usually measured in farads such as uF. Choosing the right capacitance value matters because it affects how well a circuit filters power, handles timing, or stores short bursts of energy.

DC

DC means direct current, where electricity flows in one constant direction, as supplied by batteries, USB ports and many plug-pack power supplies. When a product specifies DC, it runs from a DC supply rather than mains AC, so you need to provide the correct voltage and polarity.

through-hole

A mounting style where the component leads pass through holes in a circuit board and are soldered on the other side. Through-hole parts are often easier to handle and solder by hand, which is useful for classroom and hobby projects.

Tolerance

Tolerance tells you how far the real resistance value may be from the printed value. A 1% resistor is useful when a circuit needs more predictable behaviour than a looser 5% or 10% part.