How do capacitors store energy?

Capacitors store energy in an electrostatic field, which is created when an electric charge accumulates on the plates of the capacitor. When a voltage is applied across the capacitor's terminals, an electric field is established between the plates due to the separation of charges—electrons accumulate on one plate while corresponding positive charges are left on the other. The energy is stored in this electric field and can be released when the circuit allows the charges to flow back, powering a load or circuit component.

In contrast, energy is not stored in a magnetic field, as in inductors, nor is it related to a chemical reaction or resonance chamber. Magnetic fields relate to inductive components, chemical reactions pertain to batteries and fuel cells, and resonance chambers are not relevant to the basic operation of capacitors in electrical circuits. Therefore, the principle of energy storage in capacitors is fundamentally tied to the electrostatic fields created by the charged plates.