What type of organisms are classified as autotrophs?

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food and derive energy from either sunlight or inorganic chemical compounds. This classification includes plants, algae, and some bacteria that can perform photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Plants exemplify solar-powered autotrophs that use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Similarly, certain bacteria can utilize chemical reactions involving inorganic substances to capture energy, a process known as chemosynthesis. By contrast, organisms that consume others for energy, depend on organic matter, or rely on nutrient-rich soil for sustenance are classified as heterotrophs and do not fit the definition of autotrophs.