A capacitive touchscreen on a mobile phone works by detecting changes in capacitance when a conductor such as a finger touches the screen. The screen consists of glass coated with a transparent conductor. When a finger touches the screen it distorts the electrostatic field, which is measured as a change in capacitance. The touch location is then sent to the controller for processing. Unlike resistive touchscreens, capacitive screens cannot be used through insulating materials like gloves.

1. Capacitive Capacitive touchscreen of a mobile phone
A capacitive touchscreen panel consists of an insulator such as glass,
coated with a transparent conductor such as indium tin
oxide (ITO).[17][18] As the human body is also an electrical conductor,
touching the surface of the screen results in a distortion of the
screen'selectrostatic field, measurable as a change in capacitance.
Different technologies may be used to determine the location of the Back To Technologies
touch. The location is then sent to the controller for processing. Unlike
a resistive touchscreen, one cannot use a capacitive touchscreen
through most types of electrically insulating material, such as gloves