Photodiodes are the most versatile light-sensing component. They are also commonly misunderstood.
Something I was planning to mention, but that didn't make the cut: regular LEDs work as (poor) photodiodes too, with a LED-color-specific spectral response. Experimental results can be found here:
https://learnmaketeachshare.org/sensors%20and%20circuits/2018/10/30/using-leds-to-measure-narrow-spectral-bands.html
Thank you for clearing up the differences between some components that have long confused me :)
Something I was planning to mention, but that didn't make the cut: regular LEDs work as (poor) photodiodes too, with a LED-color-specific spectral response. Experimental results can be found here:
https://learnmaketeachshare.org/sensors%20and%20circuits/2018/10/30/using-leds-to-measure-narrow-spectral-bands.html
Thank you for clearing up the differences between some components that have long confused me :)