Data acquisition and signal conditioning is the processing of multiple electrical or electronic inputs from devices such as sensors, timers, relays, and solid state circuits for the purpose of monitoring, analyzing and/or controlling systems and processes. Major technologies and related instruments of signal generation and transmission include voltage and current signals (conditioned transducers), concentration measurement (high impedance probes), power signals from power supplies, temperature measurement (thermocouples), resistance, strain measurement (strain gauge bridges), excitation, angular position measurement (encoders), speed and flow measurement (count-timers) and digital signals. Major families of data acquisition and signal conditioning are: data acquisition (high level), signal converters, recorders and loggers, and signal conditioning.

Data acquisition devices (DAQ) are a high-level family that essentially covers all of the product areas within this category. Unlike the rest of the data acquisition and signal condition families, the subdivisions within this family are based upon the function of the devices used for data collection and/or analysis. It includes: data acquisition computer boards, input modules, output modules, input/output modules, and instruments and systems.

The family of signal converters includes various data acquisition devices that accept a signal, then filter and output the signal in a different fashion. Mostly, the signal frequency is changed, although some converters may change frequency to voltage and vice versa. Major instruments within this family include: analog-to-digital converters (ADC, A/D), charge converters / amplifiers, current loop converters, current-to-voltage converters, digital-to-analog converters (DAC), frequency converters / translators, frequency-to-voltage converters, signal converters, voltage converters / inverters, and voltage-to-frequency converters.

Recorders and loggers are devices that acquire digital data from sensors and other signaling instruments. They are primarily used to store this data for future download (to a PC) although some styles do have real-time features including monitors and alarms. Others are used to generate charts or graphs, either on a screen, or as continuous printouts for tracking or monitoring. This family includes data loggers and recorders, and chart recorders and strip charts.

Signal conditioners are devices that receive sensor output, then refine, and out put the signal (generally as digital or digitized data) so that a data acquisition computer board can read it. These include bridge conditioners (for Wheatstone bridge style sensors, such as quarter, half, or full bridge strain gauges and accelerometers), instrumentation and signal amplifiers, signal filters, and temperature signal conditioning units.