# CircuitPython Hardware: LIS3DH Accelerometer ## Overview Danger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p27rk7AyUJQ ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/039/721/medium800/micropython_IMG_5702.jpg?1487986666) Acceleration makes the world go around--literally!  It's the force that causes movement like a car accelerating away from a stop light or an object falling to the ground from gravity when dropped.  Accelerometers are small sensors that can detect the force of acceleration and are great for detecting motion and orientation.  The [LIS3DH triple-axis accelerometer](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2809) in particular is an inexpensive and easy to use accelerometer with features like X, Y, Z axis acceleration and click detection.  This guide will show you how to wire the LIS3DH to a board like the ESP8266 or SAMD21/M0 and start reading acceleration values from it in CircuitPython! Before you get started you'll want to be familiar with CircuitPython, MicroPython, and the LIS3DH by reading these guides: - [MicroPython Basics: What is MicroPython?](../../../../micropython-basics-what-is-micropython) - [MicroPython Basics: How to Load MicroPython on a Board](../../../../micropython-basics-how-to-load-micropython-on-a-board) - [MicroPython Basics: Load Files & Run Code](../../../../micropython-basics-load-files-and-run-code) - [Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer Breakout](../../../../adafruit-lis3dh-triple-axis-accelerometer-breakout/overview) Continue on to learn about the hardware needed to follow this guide. - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-hardware-lis3dh-accelerometer/hardware.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer (+-2g/4g/8g/16g) [Adafruit LIS3DH Triple-Axis Accelerometer (+-2g/4g/8g/16g)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2809) The **LIS3DH**  is a very popular low power **triple-axis accelerometer**. It's low-cost, but has just about every 'extra' you'd want in an accelerometer: - Three axis sensing, 10-bit... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2809) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2809/guides) ### Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto - ATSAMD21 Cortex M0 [Adafruit Feather M0 Basic Proto - ATSAMD21 Cortex M0](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2772) Feather is the new development board from Adafruit, and like its namesake it is thin, light, and lets you fly! We designed Feather to be a new standard for portable microcontroller cores. This is the  **Feather M0 Basic Proto** , it has a bunch of prototyping space... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2772) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2772/guides) ## Related Guides - [Overwatch Prop Gun: Lucio's Blaster Pt. 3](https://learn.adafruit.com/overwatch-prop-gun-lucios-blaster-pt-3.md) - [MicroPython Displays: Drawing Text](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-displays-drawing-text.md) - [CircuitPython Hardware: LED Backpacks & FeatherWings](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-led-backpacks-and-featherwings.md) - [Animated LED Sand](https://learn.adafruit.com/animated-led-sand.md) - [Holiday Icicle Lights with Flair](https://learn.adafruit.com/holiday-icicle-lights-with-flair.md) - [Using Piezo Buzzers with CircuitPython & Arduino](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-piezo-buzzers-with-circuitpython-arduino.md) - [MX MIDI Guitar](https://learn.adafruit.com/mx-midi-guitar.md) - [CircuitPython I2C and SPI Under the Hood](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-basics-i2c-and-spi.md) - [CircuitPython Hardware: MPR121 Capacitive Touch Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-hardware-mpr121-capacitive-touch-breakout.md) - [RGB LED Matrix Cube with 25,000 LEDs](https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-led-matrix-cube-for-pi.md) - [Guardian Shield+ Zelda Breath of the Wild](https://learn.adafruit.com/guardian-shield-zelda-breath-of-the-wild.md) - [MicroPython Displays: Drawing Shapes](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-displays-drawing-shapes.md) - [MicroPython Basics: How to Load MicroPython on a Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-basics-how-to-load-micropython-on-a-board.md) - [CircuitPython Hardware: ILI9341 TFT & FeatherWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-ili9341-tft-and-featherwing.md) - [Mini Commodore PET with Charlieplexed LED Matrix](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-commodore-pet-with-charlieplexed-led-matrix.md)