Home Assistant Entities

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when... Use ha-automations instead when...

Understanding entity domains Creating automation rules

Customizing entities Working with triggers/actions

Creating template sensors Writing automation conditions

Setting up groups Working with scripts/scenes

Working with device classes Handling events

Entity ID Structure

domain.object_id

Examples:

• light.living_room_ceiling

• sensor.outdoor_temperature

• binary_sensor.front_door_contact

• switch.garden_irrigation

Common Domains

Domain Description Example

light

Lighting control light.kitchen

switch

On/off switches switch.outlet

sensor

Numeric sensors sensor.temperature

binary_sensor

On/off sensors binary_sensor.motion

climate

HVAC control climate.thermostat

cover

Blinds, garage doors cover.garage

lock

Door locks lock.front_door

media_player

Media devices media_player.tv

camera

Camera feeds camera.front_yard

vacuum

Robot vacuums vacuum.roomba

fan

Fan control fan.bedroom

alarm_control_panel

Alarm systems alarm_control_panel.home

person

People tracking person.john

device_tracker

Device location device_tracker.phone

weather

Weather info weather.home

input_boolean

Virtual toggle input_boolean.guest_mode

input_number

Virtual number input_number.target_temp

input_select

Virtual dropdown input_select.house_mode

input_text

Virtual text input_text.message

input_datetime

Virtual date/time input_datetime.alarm

input_button

Virtual button input_button.reset

automation

Automations automation.motion_light

script

Scripts script.morning_routine

scene

Scenes scene.movie_night

group

Entity groups group.all_lights

timer

Countdown timers timer.laundry

counter

Counters counter.guests

zone

Geographic zones zone.home

sun

Sun position sun.sun

For complete device class tables (binary sensor and sensor), see REFERENCE.md.

Entity Customization

customize.yaml

Single entity

light.living_room: friendly_name: "Living Room Light" icon: mdi:ceiling-light

Binary sensor

binary_sensor.front_door: friendly_name: "Front Door" device_class: door

Sensor

sensor.outdoor_temperature: friendly_name: "Outdoor Temperature" device_class: temperature unit_of_measurement: "°C"

Glob Customization

customize_glob: "light.*_ceiling": icon: mdi:ceiling-light

"sensor.*_temperature": device_class: temperature unit_of_measurement: "°C"

"binary_sensor.*_motion": device_class: motion

Template Sensors

template:

• sensor:

  Simple state

  • name: "Average Temperature" unit_of_measurement: "°C" device_class: temperature state: >- {{ ((states('sensor.living_room_temp') | float + states('sensor.bedroom_temp') | float + states('sensor.kitchen_temp') | float) / 3) | round(1) }}

  With attributes

  • name: "Power Usage" unit_of_measurement: "W" device_class: power state: "{{ states('sensor.energy_meter_power') }}" attributes: cost_per_hour: >- {{ (states('sensor.energy_meter_power') | float * 0.15 / 1000) | round(2) }}

  Availability

  • name: "Solar Power" unit_of_measurement: "W" device_class: power state: "{{ states('sensor.inverter_power') }}" availability: "{{ states('sensor.inverter_power') != 'unavailable' }}"

For template binary sensors, switches, buttons, numbers, groups, utility meters, counters, and timers, see REFERENCE.md.

State Attributes

Common Attributes

Domain Common Attributes

light

brightness , color_temp , rgb_color , hs_color , effect

climate

temperature , current_temperature , hvac_action , preset_mode

media_player

volume_level , media_title , media_artist , source

cover

current_position , current_tilt_position

weather

temperature , humidity , pressure , wind_speed , forecast

person

source , latitude , longitude , gps_accuracy

sun

elevation , azimuth , next_rising , next_setting

Accessing Attributes

In templates

{{ state_attr('light.living_room', 'brightness') }} {{ state_attr('climate.thermostat', 'current_temperature') }} {{ state_attr('sun.sun', 'elevation') }}

In conditions

condition:

• condition: numeric_state entity_id: light.living_room attribute: brightness above: 100

Quick Reference

State Functions

Function Description Example

states('entity')

Get state states('sensor.temp')

state_attr('entity', 'attr')

Get attribute state_attr('light.x', 'brightness')

is_state('entity', 'value')

Check state is_state('light.x', 'on')

is_state_attr('entity', 'attr', 'val')

Check attribute is_state_attr('climate.x', 'hvac_action', 'heating')

states.domain

All entities in domain states.light

expand('group.x')

Expand group members expand('group.all_lights')

Agentic Optimizations

Context Command

Find entity usage grep -r "entity_id:" config/ --include="*.yaml"

List customizations grep -rA2 "^[a-z_]\..:" config/customize.yaml

Find template sensors grep -rB2 "platform: template" config/ --include="*.yaml"

Find groups grep -rA5 "^group:" config/ --include="*.yaml"

List domains used grep -roh "[a-z_]\." config/ --include=".yaml" | sort -u