What is meant by the term "inductance"?

Inductance refers to the property of an electrical circuit or device that resists changes in current flow. This characteristic is primarily due to the magnetic field created by the flow of electric current through a coil or inductor. When the current changes, the magnetic field also changes, which induces a voltage that opposes the change in current according to Lenz's Law. This behavior is fundamental in various applications, including transformers and energy storage elements in circuits.

The other options touch on different concepts within electrical engineering. Generating electric fields is associated with electric charge distributions and capacitive effects. Thermal effects relate to resistance in materials, which is specifically about how heat affects electrical resistance rather than inductance. Finally, while conductors do transmit signals, this aspect does not pertain to the definition of inductance but rather to the conductivity and characteristics of the medium itself. Thus, the understanding of inductance focuses specifically on its relationship to current changes and magnetic fields.