01Environmental
Thermistor
A resistor whose resistance changes strongly with temperature, widely used for low-cost temperature sensing.
Best for: Appliances, batteries and HVAC.
Learn more →Prominent Sensor Types
A guide to the sensor types behind IoT, robotics and industry: what each one measures, how it senses, and where it is used, grouped by environmental, motion, vision, industrial and biometric sensing.
35sensor types
5Categories
6FAQs answered
02Environmental
RTD (resistance thermometer)
Measures temperature from the change in resistance of a metal element, usually platinum, with high accuracy and stability.
Best for: Industrial process measurement.
Learn more →03Environmental
Thermocouple
Two joined metals that generate a small voltage that depends on temperature, covering very wide and high ranges.
Best for: Furnaces, engines and kilns.
Learn more →04Environmental
Humidity sensor (hygrometer)
Measures moisture in the air, often by changes in capacitance or resistance of a sensing film.
Best for: Climate control, storage and weather stations.
Learn more →05Environmental
Pressure sensor
Converts the pressure of a gas or liquid into an electrical signal, including barometric, gauge and differential types.
Best for: Altitude, tyres, hydraulics and medical devices.
Learn more →06Environmental
Gas sensor
Detects the presence or concentration of gases such as carbon monoxide, methane or volatile compounds.
Best for: Safety alarms and air monitoring.
Learn more →07Environmental
Air quality sensor
Measures pollutants such as fine particles and gases in the air, often using optical or electrochemical methods.
Best for: Smart cities and indoor air monitoring.
Learn more →08Environmental
Light sensor (photodetector)
Converts light into an electrical signal, including photodiodes, phototransistors and ambient light sensors.
Best for: Screen brightness, lighting control and cameras.
Learn more →09Environmental
Sound sensor (microphone)
Converts sound waves into electrical signals, including MEMS microphones used in phones and smart devices.
Best for: Voice interfaces and noise monitoring.
Learn more →10Environmental
Smoke detector
Senses smoke using optical scattering or ionisation to trigger an alarm.
Best for: Fire safety in buildings.
Learn more →11Environmental
Soil moisture sensor
Measures the water content of soil, commonly through resistance or capacitance probes.
Best for: Irrigation and precision agriculture.
Learn more →12Motion & position
Accelerometer
Measures acceleration, including tilt and vibration, and is usually built as a tiny MEMS chip.
Best for: Phones, wearables, vehicles and condition monitoring.
Learn more →13Motion & position
Gyroscope
Measures rotation or angular velocity, often in MEMS form.
Best for: Navigation, stabilisation and gaming.
Learn more →14Motion & position
Inertial measurement unit (IMU)
Combines accelerometers and gyroscopes, sometimes magnetometers, to track motion and orientation.
Best for: Drones, robots and AR headsets.
Learn more →15Motion & position
Magnetometer
Measures magnetic field strength and direction, and is used as a digital compass.
Best for: Heading and orientation.
Learn more →16Motion & position
GPS / GNSS receiver
Calculates position and time from signals sent by navigation satellites.
Best for: Tracking, navigation and logistics.
Learn more →17Motion & position
Proximity sensor
Detects nearby objects without touching them, using inductive, capacitive, optical or ultrasonic methods.
Best for: Factory automation and phones.
Learn more →18Motion & position
Ultrasonic sensor
Emits sound above human hearing and times the echo to measure distance.
Best for: Parking aids, robots and level measurement.
Learn more →19Motion & position
Hall effect sensor
Senses magnetic fields through the Hall effect, used to detect position, speed and current.
Best for: Wheel speed, doors and brushless motors.
Learn more →20Motion & position
Rotary encoder
Converts shaft rotation into digital position or speed signals.
Best for: Motors, robot joints and machine tools.
Learn more →21Vision & ranging
Image sensor (CMOS / CCD)
Turns light into digital images, and is the sensing part of every camera.
Best for: Cameras, machine vision and robots.
Learn more →22Vision & ranging
PIR motion sensor
Detects movement by sensing changes in infrared radiation from warm bodies.
Best for: Security lights and occupancy detection.
Learn more →23Vision & ranging
LiDAR
Measures distance with laser pulses to build 3D maps of surroundings.
Best for: Autonomous vehicles, mapping and robotics.
Learn more →24Vision & ranging
Radar
Uses radio waves to detect the range, speed and angle of objects, even in fog or dark.
Best for: Cars, aviation and presence detection.
Learn more →25Vision & ranging
Time-of-flight sensor
Measures distance by timing how long light takes to bounce back, producing depth data.
Best for: Gesture sensing and depth cameras.
Learn more →26Vision & ranging
Thermal imaging sensor
Captures infrared radiation to create images of heat.
Best for: Inspection, security and fever screening.
Learn more →27Industrial & process
Flow sensor
Measures how much liquid or gas moves through a pipe or channel.
Best for: Water, fuel and process control.
Learn more →28Industrial & process
Level sensor
Detects the level of liquids or solids in tanks, using float, ultrasonic, radar or capacitive methods.
Best for: Tanks, silos and fuel gauges.
Learn more →29Industrial & process
Load cell
Converts force or weight into an electrical signal, usually with strain gauges.
Best for: Scales and industrial weighing.
Learn more →30Industrial & process
Strain gauge
A foil element whose resistance changes when stretched, measuring deformation.
Best for: Structural and force measurement.
Learn more →31Industrial & process
Current sensor
Measures electric current and produces a proportional signal.
Best for: Power monitoring and motor control.
Learn more →32Industrial & process
pH sensor
Measures acidity or alkalinity of a liquid with an electrode.
Best for: Water quality and process chemistry.
Learn more →33Biometric & chemical
Biosensor
Combines a biological recognition element with a signal converter to detect substances such as glucose.
Best for: Medical testing and wearables.
Learn more →34Biometric & chemical
Heart-rate sensor (PPG)
Uses light to detect changes in blood volume and so estimate pulse and related signs.
Best for: Smartwatches and fitness trackers.
Learn more →35Biometric & chemical
Fingerprint sensor
Captures the pattern of a fingertip using optical, capacitive or ultrasonic methods.
Best for: Authentication and access control.
Learn more →Choosing the right approach
Match your requirement to a starting point, then compare vendors.
| Measure temperature accurately | RTD; thermistor for low cost; thermocouple for extremes |
|---|---|
| Track motion and orientation | Accelerometer, gyroscope or an IMU |
| Know where something is | GNSS outdoors, proximity or encoders indoors |
| See the surroundings | Image sensor, LiDAR, radar or time-of-flight |
| Monitor machines | Accelerometer for vibration, current sensors, temperature |
| Measure fluids | Flow, level, pressure and pH sensors |
| Health and identity | Biosensors, PPG and fingerprint sensors |
Related pages on PeterIndia.net
Neighbouring directories and hubs.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers.
What is a sensor?
A sensor detects a physical, chemical or biological quantity, such as heat, light or motion, and converts it into a signal that electronics can read.
What is a MEMS sensor?
MEMS sensors are tiny mechanical structures built on silicon chips. Accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors and microphones in phones are commonly MEMS.
Analog or digital sensors?
Analog sensors output a varying voltage or current that needs conversion. Digital sensors include the conversion and send readings over interfaces such as I2C or SPI.
What is sensor fusion?
Sensor fusion combines data from several sensors, for example an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, to get a more accurate and reliable result than any single one.
What should I check when choosing a sensor?
Check the range, accuracy and resolution, response time, power use, size, interface, environment such as heat or moisture, and cost.
Where do the links go?
Each card links to a Wikipedia article that explains the sensor type. Links were checked on 7 October 2026. For manufacturers, see the Sensor Producers page.
Descriptions are written for this page. Each card links to a Wikipedia article on the sensor type (checked 7 October 2026).