ELECTRICALResources / Electrical symbolsUpdated 29 Oct 2026

Resistor, capacitor and inductor symbols

Passive components resist, store or couple energy without amplifying it: resistors, capacitors, inductors and transformers. They are the symbols you meet first on any circuit diagram.

SymbolANSI / IEEEIEC 60617What it is

ResistorS00555A resistor limits current and divides voltage.

Variable resistorA resistor whose resistance can be adjusted.

PotentiometerA resistor with a third terminal, the wiper, that slides along it.

CapacitorS00567A capacitor stores energy in an electric field between two plates.

Polarised capacitorA capacitor that must be connected the right way round, such as an electrolytic or tantalum capacitor.

InductorS00583An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field.

TransformerS00841A transformer transfers power between two windings by magnetic coupling, stepping the voltage up or down.

Passive components: ANSI and IEC

The resistor is the clearest difference between the two standards: a zigzag in ANSI / IEEE 315, a plain rectangle in IEC 60617. Capacitors and inductors are drawn almost alike in both.

The value is written next to each symbol, with its reference designator: R1 10 kΩ, C2 100 µF 25 V, L1 4.7 mH.

Frequently asked questions

Which passive components appear on a electrical schematic?

This legend covers resistor, variable resistor, potentiometer, capacitor, polarised capacitor, inductor, transformer. Project legends may add more.

Are these symbols different in IEC and ANSI?

5 of the 7 are drawn differently. Each symbol page shows both forms side by side.

Can I download these symbols?

Yes. Each symbol page has free SVG files, and the hub has printable PDF charts.

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Passive components: ANSI and IEC

Frequently asked questions

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