Method for operating a sensor, in particular an optical gas sensor, having a connection with at least 2 poles, for measuring an analyte, wherein the method comprises: automatic detection of whether the sensor, in particular the optical gas sensor, is connected to a device; automatic detection of an analog interface and/or digital serial interface with current level and/or digital serial interface with voltage level used for the sensor, in particular the optical gas sensor, to the device; and based on the automatic detection, automatic adaptation of the operation of the sensor, in particular of the optical gas sensor, wherein the method comprises the automatic detection via the 2 poles of the connection of the sensor, in particular of the optical gas sensor, by measuring an input resistance of the device connected to the 2 poles and/or by measuring a voltage level of the device connected to the 2 poles; wherein the automatic detection comprises the following measure: automatic detection that the sensor, in particular the optical gas sensor, is connected to the device with an analog interface if an input resistance of the device lies in an associated predefinable interval; and/or is connected to the device with a digital serial interface with current level if an input resistance lies below an associated predefinable threshold value; and/or is connected to the device with a digital serial interface with voltage level if a voltage level can be measured at an input of the sensor, in particular of the optical gas sensor; wherein the automatic adaptation comprises one, several or all of the following measures: automatic configuration of the 2 poles of the connection according to the detected device as: analog interface, serial digital interface with current level, serial digital interface with voltage level. automatic detection of whether the sensor, in particular the optical gas sensor, is connected to a device; automatic detection of an analog interface and/or digital serial interface with current level and/or digital serial interface with voltage level used for the sensor, in particular the optical gas sensor, to the device; and based on the automatic detection, automatic adaptation of the operation of the sensor, in particular of the optical gas sensor, wherein the method comprises the automatic detection via the 2 poles of the connection of the sensor, in particular of the optical gas sensor, by measuring an input resistance of the device connected to the 2 poles and/or by measuring a voltage level of the device connected to the 2 poles; wherein the automatic detection comprises the following measure: automatic detection that the sensor, in particular the optical gas sensor, is connected to the device with an analog interface if an input resistance of the device lies in an associated predefinable interval; and/or is connected to the device with a digital serial interface with current level if an input resistance lies below an associated predefinable threshold value; and/or is connected to the device with a digital serial interface with voltage level if a voltage level can be measured at an input of the sensor, in particular of the optical gas sensor; wherein the automatic adaptation comprises one, several or all of the following measures: automatic configuration of the 2 poles of the connection according to the detected device as: analog interface, serial digital interface with current level, serial digital interface with voltage level.