Abstract: An operating device for a domestic electrical appliance such as a dishwasher or an electric oven, contains a control device, a plurality of electrical operating, switching and/or display elements which and a plurality of mechanical actuating elements and/or optical display elements which can be operated or observed respectively by a user and which are respectively associated with the electrical operating, switching and/or display elements. A carrier is provided for holding the plurality of actuating elements and/or optical display elements. The plurality of mechanical actuating elements and/or optical display elements and the carrier form an integral functional module. The carrier is formed from at least one hard component and the plurality of mechanical actuating elements and/or optical display elements are formed from at least one soft component, thus affording a reduced number of component elements for the operating device, which leads to advantages in regard to storage and assembly.