What component is characterized by voltage leading current?

The component that is characterized by voltage leading current is a capacitor. In an AC circuit, capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field when voltage is applied. As the voltage across a capacitor increases, the current through it starts to flow before the voltage reaches its peak value. This phenomenon creates a phase shift where the voltage waveform peaks earlier than the current waveform, resulting in the voltage "leading" the current.

Capacitance is measured in Farads, and its ability to store and release energy is crucial in various applications, including filtering, timing circuits, and energy storage. Understanding this relationship between voltage and current is vital in analyzing AC circuits and the behavior of different components within those circuits.