Term: sensor
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08872

Definition:
Transducer-type device that responds to a specific property of its surroundings or to a coming stimulus by a visually readable change in its state or by generation of a signal that can be read by an observer or instrument.

Example: Photodiode, light-emitting diode, pH sensor, air-flow sensor, etc.

Example: Array

Source: PAC, 2022, 94, 15. 'Glossary of terms relating to electronic, photonic and magnetic properties of polymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 47 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2020-0501)

Citation: 'sensor' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08872

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.