What is the term for the opposition to the change of voltage in an electrical circuit?

The term that describes the opposition to the change of voltage in an electrical circuit is capacitance. Capacitance refers specifically to the ability of a system to store an electric charge. When there is a change in voltage across a capacitor, it resists that change by absorbing or releasing charge, creating a phase difference between voltage and current in an AC circuit.

In practical applications, capacitors play a significant role in filtering, timing applications, and energy storage, reinforcing the idea that capacitance is a direct measure of how much charge a capacitor can hold per volt of electrical potential applied. This defined behavior contrasts with other components in a circuit that respond differently to varying electrical conditions. Capacitors serve a distinctive role compared to resistors, inductors, and other forms of reactance, which primarily respond to current rather than voltage changes.