ESP32 - Touch Sensor Toggle LED

This tutorial instructs you how to use ESP32 to toggle the state of an LED between ON and OFF when a touch sensor is touched. More specifically:

If the touch sensor is touched, turn the LED on
If the touch sensor is touched again, turn the LED off
The above process is repeated over and over again

Hardware Used In This Tutorial

1	×	ESP-WROOM-32 Dev Module
1	×	USB Cable Type-A to Type-C (for USB-A PC)
1	×	USB Cable Type-C to Type-C (for USB-C PC)
1	×	Touch Sensor
1	×	LED Kit with resistor
1	×	LED (red)
1	×	220Ω Resistor
1	×	Breadboard
1	×	Jumper Wires
1	×	Optionally, DC Power Jack
1	×	Recommended: Screw Terminal Expansion Board for ESP32
1	×	Recommended: Power Splitter for ESP32

Or you can buy the following kits:

1	×	DIYables ESP32 Starter Kit (ESP32 included)
1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays)
1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays)

Disclosure: Some of the links in this section are Amazon affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Additionally, some links direct you to products from our own brand, DIYables .

Introduction to LED and Touch Sensor

We have specific tutorials about LED and touch sensor. Each tutorial contains detailed information and step-by-step instructions about hardware pinout, working principle, wiring connection to ESP32, ESP32 code... Learn more about them at the following links:

Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

If you're unfamiliar with how to supply power to the ESP32 and other components, you can find guidance in the following tutorial: The best way to Power ESP32 and sensors/displays.

ESP32 Code - Touch Sensor Toggles LED

/* * This ESP32 code is created by esp32io.com * * This ESP32 code is released in the public domain * * For more detail (instruction and wiring diagram), visit https://esp32io.com/tutorials/esp32-touch-sensor-toggle-led */ #define TOUCH_SENSOR_PIN 33 // ESP32 pin GPIO33 connected to the OUTPUT pin of touch sensor #define LED_PIN 17 // ESP32 pin GPIO17 connected to LED's pin // variables will change: int ledState = LOW; // the current state of LED int lastTouchState; // the previous state of touch sensor int currentTouchState; // the current state of touch sensor void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); // initialize serial pinMode(TOUCH_SENSOR_PIN, INPUT); // set ESP32 pin to input mode pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT); // set ESP32 pin to output mode currentTouchState = digitalRead(TOUCH_SENSOR_PIN); } void loop() { lastTouchState = currentTouchState; // save the last state currentTouchState = digitalRead(TOUCH_SENSOR_PIN); // read new state if (lastTouchState == LOW && currentTouchState == HIGH) { Serial.println("The sensor is touched"); // toggle state of LED ledState = !ledState; // control LED arccoding to the toggled state digitalWrite(LED_PIN, ledState); } }

Quick Instructions

If this is the first time you use ESP32, see how to setup environment for ESP32 on Arduino IDE.
Do the wiring as above image.
Connect the ESP32 board to your PC via a micro USB cable
Open Arduino IDE on your PC.
Select the right ESP32 board (e.g. ESP32 Dev Module) and COM port.
Copy the above code and paste it to Arduino IDE.
Compile and upload code to ESP32 board by clicking Upload button on Arduino IDE
Keep touching the touch sensor several seconds and then release it.
See the change of LED's state

Line-by-line Code Explanation

The above ESP32 code contains line-by-line explanation. Please read the comments in the code!

In the code, ledState = !ledState is equivalent to the following code:

if(ledState == LOW) ledState = HIGH; else ledState = LOW;

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