Abstract: An electrical switch having a contact system including at least one fixed contact and a switching contact. The switch has an actuating element for acting in switching fashion on the contact system and a switching slide which bears the switching contact and is moveable in a movement direction between two positions, wherein in one position the switching contact is remote from the fixed contact and in the other position the switching contact bears against the fixed contact. The switch has an actuating slide which is moveable by virtue of the actuating element and is coupled to the switching slide by an elastic element. The switch includes a latching mechanism which interacts with the switching slide, such that the switching slide can be switched over between the two positions on actuation of the actuating element with a type of snap-action movement.