Processing communicates with hardware boards over USB serial to read sensors and send control signals

Processing’s Serial library enables bidirectional communication with microcontrollers (Arduino, Wiring) via USB. The board runs a separate sketch that reads sensors and writes values to the serial port; Processing reads those values and responds visually. Communication parameters must match: typically 9600 baud. Data is sent as bytes or strings; parsing (split, int()) converts raw strings to usable values. Conversely, Processing can write values to serial to control actuators on the board. This two-sketch model separates the hardware domain from the visual domain cleanly.

Examples

import processing.serial.*; Serial port = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[0], 9600); void draw() { if (port.available() > 0) { int val = port.read(); background(val); } }

Assessment

Describe the complete data flow from a light sensor connected to an Arduino to a visual element changing in Processing; identify where data format conversion is required.