An automatic soap dispenser is a freestanding or wall-mounted device that dispenses a pre-measured dollop of liquid or foam soap when a hand is passed beneath it. A sensor inside the device activates the pump when it detects movement. Automation in soap dispensers, faucets, hand dryers and sometimes even flushes on toilets are becoming common in such places as shopping malls, medical buildings, airports and other high-traffic areas. The automatic soap dispenser, which is often called a hands-free or touchless dispenser, is now also available for use in the home, along with other similar gadgets.

Hand soap purchased in a manual pump dispenser requires the user to push down on the nozzle to pump out the soap. This is more convenient than having to pick up a container and squeeze soap into the hand, but an automatic soap dispenser is even simpler to use. It is not necessary to touch the device, so it is easy to get soap with one hand without dropping or knocking over the container.