What is the purpose of a detector in chromatography?

The purpose of a detector in chromatography is to identify analytes present in the sample mixture. After the components of the sample have been separated by the chromatographic column, they pass through the detector, which detects their presence based on certain physical or chemical properties. The detector generates a signal that is proportional to the concentration of each analyte, allowing for their identification and quantification. Different types of detectors are used depending on the specific properties of the analytes being analyzed and the requirements of the chromatographic method.