Air detectors have two main functions: monitoring air quality by measuring pollutants like PM2.5, CO2, and VOCs, and ensuring process integrity by detecting air in systems like medical devices and autoclaves. For air quality monitoring, they provide data on air purity for health and safety, while process integrity detectors, often using temperature or pressure sensing, ensure critical processes are not compromised by air pockets, preventing issues like air embolism in medical devices or incomplete sterilization in autoclaves.