What are electrolytic capacitors commonly used for?

Electrolytic capacitors are primarily used for storing energy and smoothing out voltage fluctuations in circuits. This function is crucial in power supply applications, where the capacitor can charge and discharge to stabilize voltage levels, ensuring that electronic components receive a consistent supply of power. This characteristic makes them particularly effective in applications where large capacitance values are needed in a relatively small physical size, such as in power supply filters and decoupling circuits.

In addition to energy storage, electrolytic capacitors also help filter out ripple voltage in power supply outputs, contributing to a stable and smooth DC voltage. This ability to handle larger voltage fluctuations compared to other types of capacitors is a key reason they are commonly utilized in DC applications where stability is vital.

While amplifying signals, increasing current flow, or filtering noise from signals are important functions in electronic circuits, these are not the primary applications of electrolytic capacitors. Their design and construction make them best suited for energy storage and voltage smoothing tasks.