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You need a three way switch to control lights from two locations. The name is misleading. Three way switch refers to the connection points on the switch. You can use a three way switch as a single switch as long as you place hot wire on the brass screw and the use any of the other screws for the return hot.
If you have the symbol for a regular switch, a 3-way switch is the same symbol with a '3' next to it like a subscript.
An intermediate or 4 way light switch has 4 terminals + 1 ground terminal.
A single pole switch controls a light or outlet at one location. A 3 way switch controls a light or outlet from 2 locations.
"How does a single pole switch differ from a three way?" is a trick question often asked to catch-out new trainee electricians because the common but mis-named "three-way switch" is actually a single pole, double throw switch, i.e. it is only a 2-way switch, not a 3-way switch.A pair of "3-terminal, single pole, double throw" switches are often used to hook-up two separate light switches to control one light or one set of lights.A proper "3-way switch" would be capable of being switched to 3 different positions and could have one, two or more poles. Each pole could be either single- or double-throw.The same answer put in a different wayDespite the fact that the name "3-way switch" is often used to describe it, if it is of the type that has just one pole that can only be physically switched 2 ways, the name "3-way switch" is quite wrong for that particular switch. A "3-terminal, single pole, double throw" switch" is a more accurate description for it.Comment'Three-way switch' -American term. 'Two-way switch' -UK term for the same type of switch. Used to operate a lamp from two different locations.