toggle switch

2 definitions found

toggle switch - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Toggle switch \Tog"gle switch`\, n.
     1. (Elec.) an electrical switch operated by pushing a lever
        through a small angle of deflection. The lever has a
        spring which returns it to its original position after the
        pressure applied by the operator is released.
        [PJC]
  
     2. (Computer programming) A mechanism for acquiring input
        from an operator, such that taking some action (such as
        pressing a function key on a keyboard) will cause a
        program variable to take a new value. The values are
        usually changed in cyclic fashion, so that a certain
        number of activations of the toggle returns the variable
        to its initial value. When there are two values to the
        variable, each activation of the toggle causes the
        variable to assume the alternate value.
        [PJC]
        [1913 Webster]

toggle switch - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  toggle switch
      n 1: a hinged switch that can assume either of two positions
           [syn: toggle switch, toggle, on-off switch, on/off switch
           ]