The invention provides a method and device for providing sensor data for an application program based on a sensor. The method comprises the steps that configuration information of a virtual sensor is obtained, and a virtual sensor instruction is sent to the running virtual sensor according to the configuration information; or a real-time user operation instruction is obtained, and the virtual sensor instruction is sent to the running virtual sensor according to the real-time user operation instruction; virtual sensor data are generated by the virtual sensor according to the virtual sensor instruction and sent to a system sensor service; the virtual sensor data are provided for the running application program through the system sensor service. According to the method and device for providing the sensor data for the application program based on the sensor, the test on the functions based on the sensor can be achieved without arranging a physical sensor at a terminal of the running application program, and the testing cost is low. The method and device can be suitable for various running application programs based on different kinds of sensors, and compatibility is high.