Arduino project · Buttons and switches · Beginner
Slide Switch and LED
A slide switch keeps the LED on or off, like a real lamp switch.
What you will learn
- How a latching switch differs from a push button
- How the middle leg of a slide switch is used
- How INPUT_PULLUP works with a switch
How it works
The middle leg goes to the pin and one outer leg to GND. When the switch is slid to the GND side the pin reads LOW (switch ON) and the LED turns on. The other side leaves the pin HIGH and the LED turns off.
Try this next
- Use the switch to choose between a red and a green LED.
- Add a second switch for a buzzer.
- Make a night-light that only works when the switch is ON.
The simulator program and explanation on this page are original. The idea follows a classic Arduino project that students have built for years.
Parts: sensors and actuators (tap to show or hide)
Try the inputs (virtual sensors)
Pins (you can change them)
| Part | Arduino pin (change it here) | How to wire it |
|---|
Every wire, one by one
Red rail = 5 V from the Arduino 5V pin. Black rail = GND. The coloured wires carry signals. Match the wire colours on the drawing to this list.
| # | Colour | From (part and leg) | To |
|---|
Steps run from top to bottom, then start again. While the simulation runs, the active step is highlighted in green.
Quantities come from the parts you added. The store links open a search for that item on Robu.in, Amazon.in and ThinkRobotics, so you always see what is in stock today. Check the model, voltage and price before you order.
| # | Item | Qty | Search term | Buy / compare |
|---|
The PDF has the circuit sketch, pin table, every wire, sequence, full code, the parts list with store links, do’s and don’ts for each part, and the safety notes. The project file lets you come back and keep editing.
In the real world
A lamp in a room
Your LED is the lamp in this room. When the LED turns on in the simulator, the room lights up.
Tip: use the gold tab at the bottom of the circuit drawing to pull the real-world view up over the Arduino board. Your parts stay visible above it, so you can press a button and watch the real scene react.
- LED = the ceiling lamp