Unlike some other devices the Raspberry Pi does not have any analogue inputs. All 17 of its GPIO pins are digital. They can output high and low levels or read high and low levels. This is great for sensors that provide a digital input to the Pi but not so great if you want to use a sensor that doesn’t.
For sensors that act as a variable resistor such as LDRs (Light Dependent Resistors) or thermistors (temperature sensors) there is a simple solution. It allows you to measure a number of levels using a single GPIO pin. In the case of a light sensor this allows you to measure different light levels.
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
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