Data acquisition systems sample real-world data and convert it to digital form using transducers and sensors. They were first developed in the 1960s and have become essential for automatically collecting, processing, analyzing and displaying measured data. A data acquisition system consists of sensors, signal conditioning components, data acquisition hardware and computer software. Data loggers are electronic devices that record data over time from internal or external instruments and sensors. They are small, portable devices equipped with microprocessors that are useful for long-term monitoring and measurement applications across various industries.