By dielectric
| Type | Typical range | Polarized | Strengths | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic (C0G / NP0) | 0.5 pF – 100 nF | No | Stable, low-loss, tight tolerance | RF, timing, filters |
| Ceramic (X7R / X5R) | 1 nF – 100 µF | No | High capacitance per volume | Bypass, decoupling |
| Ceramic (Y5V / Z5U) | 1 nF – 22 µF | No | Cheap, very high C | Non-critical bulk |
| Film (PP, PET, PTFE) | 100 pF – 10 µF | No | Low loss, stable, high V | Audio, snubber, timing |
| Electrolytic (Al) | 0.1 µF – 100 mF | Yes | Cheap, very high C | Power supply bulk, filter |
| Tantalum | 0.1 µF – 1 mF | Yes | Stable, compact, low ESR | Portable electronics |
| Polymer (Al/Ta) | 1 µF – 1 mF | Yes | Very low ESR, long life | VRMs, CPU / GPU rails |
| Supercapacitor | 0.1 F – 3 kF | Yes | Enormous C, low V | Backup, regen, RTC hold |
| Mica | 1 pF – 10 nF | No | Extremely stable, high Q | RF, precision |
Rules of thumb
- Decoupling: place a 100 nF ceramic close to every IC power pin; add a 10 µF bulk nearby.
- Aluminum electrolytics dry out — avoid in hot places; lifetime halves per 10 °C rise.
- X7R / X5R lose capacitance with DC bias — derate to ~50% of rating for high-bias bulk.
- Never reverse-polarize electrolytics or tantalums — they can explode or ignite.
- Rated voltage is max continuous — derate 50% for reliability in bulk DC bus.
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