The photoelectric encoder of the present invention has a light-emitting device and light-receiving devices arranged in one direction in a region that light from the light-emitting device can reach. When a moving object that alternately has a light-on portion that produces a state in which light is incident on the light-receiving device and a light-off portion that produces a state in which light is not incident on the light-receiving device passes at a prescribed movement frequency in the one direction, an output of each of the light-receiving devices takes a value corresponding to the incidence or nonincidence of light on the light-receiving device. A logical operating section carries out operation of the logical values expressed by the outputs of the light-receiving devices to form an output signal that has a frequency different from the movement frequency.