Self-resonant frequency

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In electronics, capacitors and inductors have parasitic inductance and capacitance, respectively. Since a capacitor and inductor in series creates an oscillating circuit, all capacitors and inductors will oscillate when stimulated with a step impulse. The frequency of this oscillation is the self-resonant frequency.

A capacitor or inductor behaves ideally only when its working frequency is well below the self-resonant frequency. As its working frequency increases, the effects of the parasitic indutance or capacitance became more pronounced until its self-resonant frequency, when the effective capacitance or inductance is zero since it is canceled by its counterpart.

This number is commonly published for each capacitor or inductor by the manufacturer.