Capacitor codes question

[jdduffield]

Sometimes I see 10pF represented by the code 10, and other times I see it represented by the code 100 … same with 20pF, sometimes 20, other times 200. Which is it or are both correct?

 

[Robert]

Both are correct.

Sometimes the exact value in picofarads is printed onto smaller devices. I believe this is common with silver mica capacitors as well.

It's more common to see a three digit code, where the third digit is the x10 multiplier.

This does leave some ambiguity with some values, is a capacitor marked 100 actually 10pF or 100pF?
Sometimes you just have to put a meter on it.