Photoheterotrophy is a term used in microbiology to describe a metabolic process in which living organisms use light energy along with organic compounds as their source of nutrition. Some synonyms for photoheterotrophy include photoheterotrophic metabolism, photoheterotrophic growth, and photosynthetic heterotrophy. Additionally, the terms anoxygenic photosynthesis and mixotrophy are often used interchangeably when referring to photoheterotrophy. These terms describe the ability of microorganisms to carry out both photosynthesis and heterotrophic metabolism, allowing them to survive in different environmental conditions. Understanding the different synonyms for photoheterotrophy can aid in research and analysis of microbial processes in different environments.