signaler

Signaler is a term used across disciplines to refer to the source of a signal—a person, device, or process that transmits information to one or more receivers. The exact meaning depends on the field, but the core idea is that the signaller encodes a message in a signal and that the signal is interpreted by a receiver.

In biology and animal communication, signallers are organisms that emit signals—visual displays, vocalizations, chemical cues—to influence the behavior or state of others. Signals can convey information about fitness, territory, or readiness to mate. Signals may be honest or deceptive, and their evolution is shaped by the interactions of signallers and receivers, including costs of signaling and the reliability of interpretations.

In economics and game theory, the signaller refers to the sender in a signaling game. The signaller conveys information about private quality or type to a receiver, enabling better-informed decisions. Costly signals, such as education or certifications, may help separate high-quality from low-quality agents when information is imperfect. The framework explains how signaling can sustain credible information transmission under asymmetry.

In infrastructure and operations, a signaller (sometimes spelled signaller or signaler) can be a human operator or a device that issues or transmits signals to control systems, such as railway signals, traffic signals, or digital communication protocols. Here, signaling aims to ensure safety, coordination, or efficiency in complex environments.

Etymology and usage: from signal + -er. Spelling variations exist across regions; signaller is common in some variants of English, while signaler is often used in others. See also signaling, signal, receiver.