The transistor is the foundation of modern electronic devices. It is made entirely from semiconductor material (making it a solid state device) and can serve many different functions in a circuit including acting as a switch, amplifier, or current regulator. A transistor works by allowing a small amount of current applied at the base to control general current flow from collector to emitter through the transistor.

An inductor is coiled wire that stores electric energy in the form of magnetic energy and resists changes in the electric current flowing through it. If current is increasing, the inductor produces a voltage that slows the increase and, if current is decreasing, the magnetic energy in the coil opposes the decrease to keep the current flowing longer. In contrast to capacitors, inductors allow DC to pass easily but resist the flow of AC.

Resistors can be chosen in a wide variety of values to control the voltage in a circuit, limit the current, or moderate the heat produced by the components in the circuit.

Inductance is a property of an AC circuit (or a component in an AC circuit) that quantifies resistance to changes in current. The current in an AC circuit is continuously changing and inductive reactance (the opposition to change) depends both on the inductance of the circuit or component and the rate at which the current is changing.

Direct current flows in only one direction in a circuit, from the negative terminal of the voltage source to the positive. A common source of direct current (DC) is a battery. The three most common types of batteries are dry cell (used in small devices like TV remotes), wet cell (used for cars), and deep-cycle (storage batteries used primarily for backup and emergency power).