What do digital cameras utilize to capture images?

Digital cameras capture images using light-sensitive sensors, which are typically CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensors. These sensors convert the incoming light from a scene into electrical signals, which are then processed to create a digital image. The quality and performance of the image captured depend significantly on the characteristics of these sensors, such as their resolution, sensitivity to light, and dynamic range.

While film is used in traditional cameras, it is not part of digital photography. Post-processing software is involved in editing and enhancing images after they are captured, but it does not play a role in the initial image capture. Memory cards are used for storing digital images but are not involved in the actual process of capturing images; they are a means of retaining the images after they have been created by the sensors. Thus, light-sensitive sensors are fundamental to the operation of digital cameras.