What occurs if a capacitor is shorted?

When a capacitor is shorted, it essentially creates a direct electrical path through the capacitor, bypassing its intended function, which is to store electrical energy. Instead of operating normally, the capacitor can no longer fulfill its role of storing charge. This results in significant changes to the electrical characteristics of the component.

In a shorted state, the capacitor loses its ability to hold voltage, effectively behaving like a wire with negligible resistance. This can lead to issues in the circuit it is part of, such as excessive current flow that could damage other components and overall disruption in the intended functionality of the circuit.

Therefore, the correct answer reflects the reality that a shorted capacitor compromises its electrical characteristics, leading to malfunction within the electronic system.