A switch is a device that allows a circuit to be opened or closed by activating a mechanical actuator. Switches can control the flow of electrical current in various systems of a vehicle, such as the lighting, the ignition, the starting, the charging, the heating and cooling, or the entertainment.
Switches can be manual, activated by the driver or a passenger, or automatic, activated by sensors or other vehicle components. Switches can also be classified based on construction, such as toggle switches, rocker switches, push-button switches, rotary switches, or multi-position switches.