---
name: "SDL_SensorType"
section: "3type"
platform: "linux"
package: "libsdl3-doc"
version: "3.2.10+ds-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SDL_SensorType"
---

# SDL\_SensorType(3type)

The different sensors defined by SDL.

## NAME

SDL\_SensorType - The different sensors defined by SDL.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_sensor.h

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include "SDL3/SDL.h"
```

**typedef enum SDL\_SensorType** **{**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_INVALID = -1,    /\*\*\< Returned for an invalid sensor \*/**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_UNKNOWN,         /\*\*\< Unknown sensor type \*/**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_ACCEL,           /\*\*\< Accelerometer \*/**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_GYRO,            /\*\*\< Gyroscope \*/**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_ACCEL\_L,         /\*\*\< Accelerometer for left Joy-Con controller and Wii nunchuk \*/**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_GYRO\_L,          /\*\*\< Gyroscope for left Joy-Con controller \*/**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_ACCEL\_R,         /\*\*\< Accelerometer for right Joy-Con controller \*/**     **SDL\_SENSOR\_GYRO\_R           /\*\*\< Gyroscope for right Joy-Con controller \*/** **} SDL\_SensorType;**

## DESCRIPTION

Additional sensors may be available, using platform dependent semantics.

Here are the additional Android sensors:

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/SensorEvent.html#values

Accelerometer sensor notes:

The accelerometer returns the current acceleration in SI meters per second squared. This measurement includes the force of gravity, so a device at rest will have an value of  **SDL\_STANDARD\_GRAVITY**

away from the center of the earth, which is a positive Y value.

\- **values\[0\]** : Acceleration on the x axis - **values\[1\]** : Acceleration on the y axis - **values\[2\]** : Acceleration on the z axis

For phones and tablets held in natural orientation and game controllers held in front of you, the axes are defined as follows:

• -X ... +X : left ... right

• -Y ... +Y : bottom ... top

• -Z ... +Z : farther ... closer

The accelerometer axis data is not changed when the device is rotated.

Gyroscope sensor notes:

The gyroscope returns the current rate of rotation in radians per second. The rotation is positive in the counter-clockwise direction. That is, an observer looking from a positive location on one of the axes would see positive rotation on that axis when it appeared to be rotating counter-clockwise.

\- **values\[0\]** : Angular speed around the x axis (pitch) - **values\[1\]** : Angular speed around the y axis (yaw) - **values\[2\]** : Angular speed around the z axis (roll)

For phones and tablets held in natural orientation and game controllers held in front of you, the axes are defined as follows:

• -X ... +X : left ... right

• -Y ... +Y : bottom ... top

• -Z ... +Z : farther ... closer

The gyroscope axis data is not changed when the device is rotated.

## AVAILABILITY

This enum is available since SDL 3.2.0.

## SEE ALSO

**•**(3), [**SDL\_GetCurrentDisplayOrientation**(3)](/SDL_GetCurrentDisplayOrientation/3.md)