Variable inductors are passive electronic components whose inductance value can be manually or electronically adjusted. Unlike fixed inductors, they are designed for tuning applications where fine control over inductance is required to optimize circuit performance.
A typical variable inductor consists of a coil wound on a core (usually ferrite or iron), with the position of the core or an adjustable slug that can be moved in and out of the coil to vary the magnetic permeability and, consequently, the inductance.