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The inner workings of a smoke detector include three main parts: the sensing chamber, a loud horn, and a battery (or house voltage power source). A test button lets you know if the battery, sensor and alarm are working properly. Batteries should be replaced yearly, on a regular schedule.
Standard smoke detectors work by ionization; some use a photoelectric cell. With ionization, a tiny amount of radioactive material conducts electricity through the air between two electrodes. When smoke upsets the current, the alarm sounds. Photoelectric models use a small beam of light. Smoke causes the light to disperse and, when it does, the alarm begins to bleat its warning.
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