Current is the rate of flow of electrons per unit time and is measured in amperes (A). A coulomb (C) is the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by a current of one ampere.

Fuses are thin wires that melt when the current in a circuit exceeds a preset amount. They help prevent short circuits from damaging circuit components when an unusually large current is applied to the circuit, either through component failure or spikes in applied voltage.

Current flow through a wire increases the temperature of the wire. If too small a wire is used, the wire will heat up causing a loss in conductivity and possibly a fire. The thicker in diameter a wire is, the more current it can carry without overheating.

Capacitors store electricity and are used in circuits as temporary batteries. Capacitors are charged by DC current (AC current passes through a capacitor) and that stored charge can later be dissipated into the circuit as needed. Capacitors are often used to maintain power within a system when it is disconnected from its primary power source or to smooth out or filter voltage within a circuit.

The purpose of a capacitor is to retain electric charge and it will do so even after its input voltage is removed. After the input voltage is removed, the capacitor will slowly discharge but, depending on the size and characteristics of the capacitor, discharging could take from a few minutes to a few years. So, it's never safe to touch a capacitor with your hands and you should make sure to discharge any capacitors in a circuit before working on it using an appropriately high-wattage resistor or a capacitor discharge tool.