Single layer ceramic capacitors offer high maximum operating voltage, with typical values of the order of 10 kilovolts (kV). That makes them usable in high voltage applications.

Ceramic capacitors use ceramic materials as dielectric and metallic materials as electrodes. Single layer ceramic capacitor is formed by three-layer structure (metallic-ceramic-metallic) with two metallic terminals on a single layer (chunk) of ceramic. They are non-polarized so they may be connected either to positive or negative voltage.

Single layer ceramic capacitor is larger than a multilayer ceramic capacitor with the same capacitance, so it may not be appropriate when miniaturization is important. The use of ceramic material limits the mechanical durability of ceramic capacitors. Single layer ceramic capacitors have better mechanical durability than multilayer ceramic capacitors because they include a larger chunk of ceramic, whereas multilayer capacitors include many thin layers of ceramic.

Different ceramic materials used as a dielectric result in very different capacitors. In order to provide an easier selection of a ceramic capacitor suitable for a particular application, standard classification is introduced. They are classified according to the requirements they fulfill. For example, Class 1 capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit application.

Additionally, some applications require compliance with special purpose standard requirements. Single layer ceramic capacitors are used for the blocking of radio frequency interference (in RFI filters). Sometimes they are connected to power supply lines where they must comply with some additional requirements (class X and/or class Y) to ensure safety for the user of the equipment.