Photodiode vs. Photodetector

Photodiodenoun

a semiconductor two-terminal component whose electrical characteristics are light-sensitive

Photodetectornoun

Any device used to detect electromagnetic radiation

Photodiode

A photodiode is a semiconductor p-n junction device that converts light into an electrical current. The current is generated when photons are absorbed in the photodiode.

Photodetector

Photodetectors, also called photosensors, are sensors of light or other electromagnetic radiation. There is a wide variety of photodetectors which may be classified by mechanism of detection, such as photoelectric or photochemical effects, or by various performance metrics, such as spectral response.