What is the purpose of connecting a resistor in the circuit?

[thereddevils]

When charging the capacitor, what is the purpose of connecting a resistor in the circuit?

Is it to slow down the rate of charge entering the capacitor, therefore lowering the potential difference across it? I think that doesn't make sense. Or maybe to encourage the flow of current in the circuit, we must include a resistor in the circuit according to ohm's law?

 

[rl.bhat]

When charging the capacitor, it is not necessary to connect a resistor in the circuit.
If you want to charge or discharge the capacitor slowly, you have to include the resistance in the circuit.

 

[thereddevils]

When charging the capacitor, it is not necessary to connect a resistor in the circuit.
If you want to charge or discharge the capacitor slowly, you have to include the resistance in the circuit.

Thanks rlbhat, as for discharging the circuit, is it true that the capacitor is required to 'draw' the charges out of the capacitor? Also for charging, what's the point for the capacitor to charge slower? What's the advantage of doing that?