Pedestal Button

Switches are a game mechanic used within the Portal series. Switches can be found very frequently throughout Test Chambers and are primarily used to allow the player to trigger or toggle a particular function. A switch can be activated with the "Use" key (default: ).

Uses
Switches are used for multiple purposes to initiate a particular action. More common uses include the dropping of a Cube, activating a Gel pipeline and opening a door. Switches can also be timer-based, where the action, for example extending a platform, is only activated for a specific length of time.