What component is used to store and discharge electrical energy?

The correct answer is a capacitor because it is specifically designed to store electrical energy in an electric field. This occurs when voltage is applied across the terminals of the capacitor, creating an electric field between its plates. Once charged, a capacitor can discharge this energy back into the circuit when needed, making it essential in various applications such as smoothing out voltage fluctuations in power supplies, filtering signals in electronic circuits, and providing quick bursts of energy.

In contrast, resistors convert electrical energy into heat through resistance and do not store energy. Inductors store energy in a magnetic field when current flows through them but are not used primarily for storing and discharging electrical energy in the same way capacitors are. Transformers are designed to transfer electrical energy between circuits via electromagnetic induction, not to store it. Therefore, the unique function of a capacitor in storing and discharging energy makes it the correct answer.