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 . <EOS>