Optical sensors have many applications and are continuing to develop rapidly. They work by measuring changes in light intensity, phase, polarization, wavelength or spectral distribution caused by the phenomenon being measured. Optical sensors are classified as extrinsic or intrinsic and have advantages like electromagnetic immunity, compact size, and ability for distributed or multiplexed configurations. They are used in applications like night vision cameras, biometric identification, partial discharge detection in transformers, and more. Overall the presentation discusses the principle, classification, examples, and future potential of optical sensors.