ha-entities

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`