Editing Switch (section)

{{Short description|Electrical component that can break an electrical circuit}}
{{About|the electrical component|the video game console|Nintendo Switch|other uses}}
{{Redirect|Toggle button|the graphical widget|Cycle button}}
[[File:switches-electrical.agr.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Electrical switches. Top, left to right: circuit breaker, [[mercury switch]], wafer switch, [[DIP&nbsp;switch]], surface mount switch, [[reed switch]]. Bottom, left to right: wall switch (U.S.&nbsp;style), miniature toggle switch, in‑line switch, push-button switch, rocker switch, microswitch.]]
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In [[electrical engineering]], a '''switch''' is an [[electrical component]] that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an [[electrical circuit]], interrupting the [[electric current]] or diverting it from one conductor to another.<ref>{{cite web | title = Switch
 | work = The Free Dictionary | url = http://www.thefreedictionary.com/switch | publisher = Farlex | year = 2008 | access-date = 2008-12-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Switch | encyclopedia = The American Heritage Dictionary, College Edition | pages = 1301 | publisher = Houghton Mifflin | year = 1979 }}</ref> The most common type of switch is an electromechanical device consisting of one or more sets of movable [[electrical contact]]s connected to external circuits. When a pair of contacts is touching current can pass between them, while when the contacts are separated no current can flow.

Switches are made in many different configurations; they may have multiple sets of contacts controlled by the same knob or actuator, and the contacts may operate simultaneously, sequentially, or alternately. A switch may be operated manually, for example, a [[light switch]] or a keyboard button, or may function as a [[sensor|sensing element]] to sense the position of a machine part, liquid level, pressure, or temperature, such as a [[thermostat]]. Many specialized forms exist, such as the [[toggle switch]], [[rotary switch]], [[mercury switch]], [[push-button]] switch, [[reversing switch]], [[relay]], and [[circuit breaker]]. A common use is control of lighting, where multiple switches may be wired into one circuit to allow convenient control of light fixtures. Switches in high-powered circuits must have special construction to prevent destructive arcing when they are opened.