electronic switch

In electronics, an electronic switch is an electronic component or device that can switch an electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another. Electronic switches are considered binary devices because they can be on or completely off. When an electronic switch is on, it is considered closed in a circuit. When the switch is classified as off the switch is open in the circuit.

Typically, electronic switches use solid state devices such as transistors, though vacuum tubes can be used as well in high voltage applications. Electronic switches also consist of complex configurations that are assisted by physical contact. Physical contact typically comes from pressing or flipping a switch with your hand, but other forms of contact like light sensors and magnetic field sensors are used to operate switches.