There are many types of button switches, including ordinary button type, mushroom head type, self-locking type, self resetting type, rotary handle type, indicator light type, light symbol type, and key type. There are single button, double button, three button and different combination forms. Generally, a building block structure is used, which is composed of button cap, reset spring, bridge contact and housing. It is usually made into a composite type, with a pair of normally closed contacts and normally open contacts. Some products can increase the number of contacts by connecting multiple components in series. There is also a self-contained button that automatically maintains the closed position when pressed, and can only be opened after power is turned off.

The button switch can complete basic controls such as start, stop, forward and reverse rotation, speed change, and interlock. Usually, each button switch has two pairs of contacts. Each pair of contacts consists of one normally open contact and one normally closed contact. When the button is pressed, both pairs of contacts act simultaneously, with the normally closed contact opening and the normally open contact closing.

In order to indicate the function of each button and avoid misoperation, button caps are usually made in different colors to distinguish them, including red, green, black, yellow, blue, white, etc. For example, red represents the stop button, green represents the start button, etc. The main parameters, types, installation hole sizes, number of contacts, and current capacity of the contacts of the button switch are all detailed in the product manual.