GO:0006910

The initial step in phagocytosis involving adhesion to bacteria, immune complexes and other particulate matter, or an apoptotic cell and based on recognition of factors such as bacterial cell wall components, opsonins like complement and antibody or protein receptors and lipids like phosphatidyl serine, and leading to intracellular signaling in the phagocytosing cell. [GOC:curators, ISBN:0781735149]