Simple Explanation

The tendency of a coil or circuit to resist sudden changes in electric current.

Concise Technical Definition

The property of an electrical circuit or component (typically a coil) that opposes changes in current flow, measured in henries (H).

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like trying to stop or start a heavy flywheel—the more mass (inductance), the more it resists changes in motion (current).

Industry Usage Summary

Found in speaker crossovers, transformers, and power supplies; used to shape frequency response or filter signals. Inductors resist current change and store energy in a magnetic field.

Engineering Shortcut

Opposes ΔI; stores energy magnetically; measured in henries (H).

Full Technical Explanation

Inductance is the property of an electrical circuit—typically a coil or inductor—that resists changes in current. It arises from the magnetic field generated by the current flow, which induces a voltage (back EMF) opposing the change in current, according to Lenz’s Law. Measured in henries (H), inductance plays a key role in filters, transformers, and speaker crossovers. Unlike resistance, which opposes current at all times, inductance primarily resists changes in current. In audio applications, inductors help control frequency response by blocking high frequencies in low-pass filters.