Saprobionts are organisms that digest their food externally and then absorb the products.
[citation needed] Saprobiontic organisms feed off dead and/or decaying biological materials.
Digestion is accomplished by excretion of digestive enzymes which break down cell tissues, allowing saprobionts to extract the nutrients they need while leaving the indigestible waste.
[citation needed] Saprobionts should not be confused with detritivores, another class of decomposers which digest internally.
[citation needed] These organisms can be good sources of extracellular enzymes for industrial processes such as the production of fruit juice.