Does a capacitor retain a charge after being de-energized?

When a capacitor is de-energized, it can still hold a charge for a limited period. This is mainly due to its ability to store electrical energy in an electric field created between its plates. The amount of time that a charged capacitor can retain its charge largely depends on several factors including the capacitor's type, construction, and the circuit it's in.

In many cases, after a capacitor is disconnected from a voltage source, it will gradually discharge and the voltage across its terminals will decrease over time. However, this discharge does not happen instantaneously; instead, it takes time for the charge to dissipate, hence the capacitor retains the charge only for a short duration.

For practical applications, capacitors may retain a significant charge for a brief period, although the voltage may drop considerably. Users must be cautious as a capacitor can still pose a risk of electric shock if touching the terminals shortly after being de-energized.