What are the basic components of an antenna?

what are the basic components of an antena or its basic characteristics inorder to receive signal?
i hope you guys can help me.

tnx.
anun

The simplest antenna is just a pice of wire.
To learn about how long this wire should be goto:
http://www.electronics-tutorials.com...nna-basics.htm
http://web.telia.com/~u85920178/antennas/anten.htm
Regards,
IanP

as your question be asked,i think u do need read
books about the fundamental of antennas,it is not
like circuits that has only a kind of form,and its components varies with the kind of antenna.hope helps