Transistor as switch

One of the most common uses for transistors in an electronic circuit is as simple switches. In short, a transistor conducts current across the collector-emitter path only when a voltage is applied to the base. When no base voltage is present, the switch is off. When base voltage is present, the switch is on.

In an ideal switch, the transistor should be in only one of two states: off or on. The transistor is off when there’s no bias voltage or when the bias voltage is less than 0.7 V. The switch is on when the base is saturated so that collector current can flow without restriction.

This is a schematic diagram for a circuit that uses an NPN transistor as a switch that turns an LED on or off.