A photoelectric sensor can identify or detect physical obstacles without contact, emitting light or infrared rays and checking for obstruction. It utilizes color, texture or opacity to identify the target using diffuse, retroreflective or through beam techniques. It is excellent for positional assembly line tasks such as level sensing or anti-collision tasks. These senors have a detection range of a few centimeters to several meters, exhibiting resolution down to micrometers for specialized precision tasks.