A light grid and a method using a light grid include a transmission unit having a plurality of light transmitters for transmitting light beams and a reception unit having a plurality of light receivers for receiving the light beams of the light transmitters. The transmission unit and the reception unit are spaced apart from one another and are disposed opposite one another. A monitored field is formed by oppositely disposed light transmitters and light receivers for detecting objects. The light transmitters are activated one after the other in cycles and the light receivers are evaluated in these cycles. A programmable evaluation unit is provided for evaluating the received signals of the light receivers of a cycle with reference to predefined beam evaluation criteria and forming an intermediate result therefrom. The evaluation unit evaluates at least one intermediate result of a cycle with reference to at least one predefined sequential criterion.