What component stores electrical energy in an electric field?

A capacitor is the component that stores electrical energy in an electric field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric. When a voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field is created in the dielectric and charges are stored on the plates. The amount of energy stored in a capacitor is determined by its capacitance and the voltage across it, following the formula (E = \frac{1}{2} C V^2), where (E) is the energy in joules, (C) is the capacitance in farads, and (V) is the voltage in volts.

In contrast, a resistor dissipates electrical energy as heat and does not store energy. An inductor stores energy in the form of a magnetic field when current flows through it, but this energy is not stored in an electric field like in a capacitor. A transformer is used to transfer electrical energy between circuits through magnetic coupling and does not serve the purpose of storing energy either. Therefore, the ability of a capacitor to store energy electronically through an electric field makes it the correct answer to the question.