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Inductance is best defined as the property of an electrical component, particularly inductors, that opposes changes in current. When the current flowing through an inductor changes, it generates a magnetic field that can induce a voltage in opposition to that change, as described by Lenz's Law. This property is fundamental to the operation of inductors in circuits, as they resist rapid changes in current and can create a temporary storage of energy in the magnetic field.

The opposition to these changes in current is crucial in many applications, such as filtering, smoothing current flow in power supplies, and in tuning circuits for radios. Inductance is measured in henries (H), and it plays a critical role in understanding how circuits will behave during transient conditions when current levels are not steady.

This definition encompasses the essential characteristic of inductance and why it is important in electrical systems.