Push buttons are used to momentarily open or close a conductive pathway. If a push button is normally open (N.O.), then when it is not pressed down, it is not conducting. But when it is pressed, it completes the circuit. A doorbell button is an example of this type of button. A normally closed (N.C.) push button does just the opposite. It is normally conducting, but when pressed it stops conducting. Push buttons, like most switches, can also have more than one pole and throw.

Above some push buttons are shown.

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