What is a typical use of an inductor in electrical circuits?

An inductor is typically used in electrical circuits to store energy in a magnetic field. When current flows through an inductor, a magnetic field is generated around it, and this field can store energy. This property makes inductors crucial in various applications, including power supply circuits, filters, and oscillators, where managing energy storage and transfer is essential.

In practical terms, when the current through the inductor changes, the magnetic field can release or absorb energy, which can help maintain a stable current in the circuit. This characteristic is particularly useful in applications like switch-mode power supplies, where inductors play a key role in converting energy efficiently and managing the flow of current.

While inductors do resist changes in current due to their nature of opposing any abrupt change in current flow, this is a secondary effect compared to their primary function of energy storage. The other options refer to functions that are more closely associated with different types of components, such as resistors or capacitors for resisting current or energy storage, transistors for amplification, and diodes or rectifiers for converting AC to DC.