Definition

An individual sensor within a sensor network.

Definition and Description

A sensor node is a fundamental component in a wireless sensor network (WSN) or the Internet of Things (IoT) that is equipped with one or more sensors, data processing capabilities, and communication interfaces. These compact and self-contained devices are designed to collect data from the physical world, process it, and transmit it wirelessly to a central system or other connected nodes for further analysis or action. Sensor nodes are commonly used in applications like environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, industrial automation, and smart cities, where distributed data collection and real-time monitoring are essential. They play a central role in the growth of IoT and sensor network technologies.