Definition: A CMOS sensor is a type of image sensor inside a digital camera consisting of an integrated circuit that records an image.
The complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor consists of millions of pixel sensors, each of which includes a photodetector. As light enters the camera through the lens, it strikes the CMOS sensor, which causes each photodetector to accumulate an electric charge based on the amount of light that strikes it. The digital camera then converts the charge to pixels that make up the photo.
CMOS uses a slightly different technology from CCD, another type of image sensor found in digital cameras. CMOS is becoming the more popular type of technology because of its low power consumption and speed.
Also Known As: complementary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor
