The E2E-X4B1T12 5M with Proximity Sensors M12 Shielded Output PNP, IOLink COM3, 5M is a 5-meter shielded output PNP proximity sensor manufactured by Omron. This sensor is used to detect any object that is up to 5 meters away, which makes it great for applications like automated door openers, robots, and other industrial machinery. The IOLink COM3 is the communication port that will allow the device to communicate with other hardware such as your computer. The sensor is shielded to protect it from short-circuits or other damage caused by interference from outside sources. The output is PNP, which stands for "positive-negative-positive", meaning that when the sensor detects an object, it will output a positive voltage. This is a robust and reliable electronic part that will provide long-term use.