---
layout: page
title: "Template Sensor"
description: "Instructions how to integrate Template sensors into Home Assistant."
date: 2016-01-27 07:00
sidebar: true
comments: false
sharing: true
footer: true
ha_category: Sensor
ha_release: 0.12
---

The `template` platform supports sensors which breaks out `state_attributes` from other entities.

To enable Template sensors in your installation, add the following to your `configuration.yaml` file:

```yaml
# Example configuration.yaml entry
sensor:
  platform: template
  sensors:
    solar_angle:
      value_template: {% raw %}'{{ states.sun.sun.attributes.elevation }}'{% endraw %}
      friendly_name: 'Sun angle'
      unit_of_measurement: 'degrees'
    sunrise:
      value_template: {% raw %}'{{ states.sun.sun.attributes.next_rising }}'{% endraw %}
```

Configuration variables:

- **sensors** array (*Required*): List of your sensors.
  - **friendly_name** (*Optional*): Name to use in the Frontend.
  - **unit_of_measurement** (*Optional*): Defines the units of measurement of the sensor, if any.
  - **value_template** (*Optional*): Defines a [template](/topics/templating/) to extract a value from the payload.
  - **warnings** (*Optional*): Turn off warnings (useful if the sensor is loaded before devices it depends on).
  - **entity_id** (*Optional*): Add a list of entity_ids so the sensor only reacts to state changes of these entities. This will reduce the number of times the sensor will try to update it's state.


## {% linkable_title Examples %}

In this section you find some real life examples of how to use this sensor.

### {% linkable_title Sun angle %}

This example shows the sun angle in the frontend.

```yaml
sensor:
  platform: template
  sensors:
      solar_angle:
        value_template: {% raw %}'{{ "%+.1f"|format(states.sun.sun.attributes.elevation) }}'{% endraw %}
        friendly_name: 'Sun Angle'
        unit_of_measurement: '°'
```

### {% linkable_title Multi line example with an if test (and warnings disabled)%}

This example shows a multiple line template with and if test. It looks at a sensing switch and shows on/off in the frontend. It disables warnings to avoid log messages where the switch it depends on isn't loaded yet.

```yaml
sensor:
  platform: template
  sensors:
      kettle:
        friendly_name: 'Kettle'
        {% raw %}value_template: >-
            {%- if is_state("switch.kettle", "off") %}
                off
            {%  elif states.switch.kettle.attributes.kwh < 1000 %}
                standby
            {% elif is_state("switch.kettle", "on") %}
                on
            {% else %}
                failed
            {%- endif %}{% endraw %}

       warnings: Off
```
(please note the blank line to close the multi-line template)

### {% linkable_title Change the unit of measurment %}

With a template sensor it's easy to convert given values into others if the unit of measurement don't fit your needs.

```yaml
sensor:
  platform: template
  sensors:
    transmission_down_speed_kbps:
        value_template: {% raw %}'{{ states.sensor.transmission_down_speed.state | multiply(1024) }}'{% endraw %}
        friendly_name: 'Transmission Down Speed'
        unit_of_measurement: 'kB/s'
    transmission_up_speed_kbps:
        value_template: {% raw %}'{{ states.sensor.transmission_up_speed.state | multiply(1024) }}'{% endraw %}
        friendly_name: 'Transmission Up Speed'
        unit_of_measurement: 'kB/s'
```