Understanding sensors

In this section, we explain what sensors are and the importance of sensor modules. It is important to understand first what sensors are and what their purpose is before you use them in practical microcontroller board applications, for example, using photoresistors, which are a useful type of sensor. This information about sensors is essential for further sections.

Defining sensors

A sensor is an electronic component, device, or module that measures physical input from an environment or a particular situation (for example, a sensor measuring water temperature in a fish tank). Sensors are useful for detecting changes in physical variables, such as humidity, temperature, light, vibrations, and movement, among others. Those physical variations are manifested in the sensors by changing their electric/electronic properties, such as changes in resistance and conductivity in the sensors.

There are different types of sensors with different applications. For example...