In electrical terms, what does "reactance" refer to?

Reactance specifically refers to the opposition to alternating current (AC) that arises due to inductance and capacitance within a circuit, rather than simply the resistance. In electrical systems, inductors and capacitors store energy in magnetic and electric fields, respectively. This storage leads to a delay between voltage and current, known as phase shift, which contributes to reactance.

Inductive reactance increases with frequency, making it significant in AC circuit analysis, while capacitive reactance decreases with frequency. Both types of reactance affect how current and voltage behave in an AC circuit, ultimately influencing the circuit's overall impedance. Therefore, understanding reactance is crucial for effectively analyzing and designing AC circuits, particularly when it comes to tuning and impedance matching in various applications.