What kind of switch allows you to control a light fixture from two different locations?

A three-way switch is designed specifically to control a light fixture from two different locations, making it ideal for hallways, staircases, or large rooms where convenient lighting control is needed. With a three-way switch setup, you can turn the light on or off from either switch, allowing for greater flexibility and convenience in managing the lighting in a given area.

This functionality is achieved through a special wiring configuration that allows the switches to communicate with each other. Each three-way switch has three terminals connecting it to the light fixture and to the other switch. When one switch is flipped, it changes the state of the circuit, allowing the second switch to operate the light in the opposite state.

Single-pole switches are used to control a light fixture from only one location, while four-way switches facilitate control of a single light fixture from three or more locations but are not used alone. Dimmer switches allow for brightness control but do not provide the dual-location function of the three-way switch.