What is the term for an organism that obtains its food from light?

The term for an organism that obtains its food from light is "producer." Producers are typically plants, algae, and some bacteria that engage in photosynthesis, a process that uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This ability to generate their own food makes them fundamental to ecosystems, as they serve as the primary source of energy for other organisms, known as consumers.

While consumers rely on other organisms for food, decomposers break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. Herbivores specifically consume plants, but the term does not encompass organisms that can create their own food from light. Thus, the most accurate terminology for organisms that harness solar energy for sustenance is "producer."