The specific heat capacity of a substance is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of the substance by 1 °C. It is measured in J/kg°C. Water has a large specific heat capacity, so it takes a lot of energy to warm it up.
The specific latent heat of a substance is the energy needed to change the state of 1 kg of the substance without changing its temperature. It is measured in J/kg. The specific latent heat of fusion is for melting or freezing. The specific latent heat of vaporisation is for boiling or condensing.
The two ideas are different. Specific heat capacity is used when the temperature changes. Specific latent heat is used when the substance changes state and the temperature stays constant. Both are energy for each kilogram of the substance.
