2 · Inputs & sensors
Read a potentiometer
Beginner12 min
Goal
Print the analog value of A0 on the serial monitor.
Why it matters
The 10-bit analog-to-digital converter turns a voltage into a number from 0 to 1023.
What you need
- Arduino UNO board
- 10 kΩ potentiometer
Nothing to buy: every component below is simulated in the browser.
Steps
- 01Add a potentiometer on A0.
- 02Serial.begin(9600) inside setup().
- 03analogRead(A0) inside loop().
- 04Print it with Serial.println().
This tutorial runs inside the Circuitly simulator: your wiring and your code are checked automatically at every step.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to buy hardware for this tutorial?
- No. Everything runs in the browser: Circuitly simulates the board, the components and the code. Real hardware is optional if you want to rebuild the circuit afterwards.
- Which components are used?
- Arduino UNO board, 10 kΩ potentiometer. They are already available in the simulator library.
- How long does it take?
- About 12 minutes, beginner level, in 4 guided steps.
- What should I know before starting?
- The previous tutorial in the series, “Toggle button (debounced)”, is enough preparation. No software install is required.
- Is the code provided and checked?
- The simulator checks your wiring and your code automatically at every step, and shows the commented solution if you get stuck.
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In the same series
- Read a push button
Light the LED only while the button is pressed.
- Toggle button (debounced)
One press turns on, the next turns off — with no contact bounce.
- Convert to volts (map & float)
Turn the ADC's 0–1023 into a 0.00–5.00 V reading.
- Light sensor (LDR)
Turn the LED on automatically when the room gets dark.