Engineering English
Contact
Mechatronics & Robotics · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A contact is a ladder logic element that represents a physical input or internal condition. It can be normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) and passes logic state when its associated condition is true.
Example in context
“The normally open contact for sensor S1 must be true before the coil for valve V2 can be energized in the rung.”
“S1 sensörü için normalde açık kontak, V2 valfi için bobinin basamakta enerjilenebilmesi için doğru olmalıdır.”
Where engineers use it
Contacts are fundamental elements in Ladder Logic programming used to read input signals and internal flags. Engineers use contacts to implement conditional logic and interlocking sequences in PLC programs.
Synonyms: normally open contact, NO contact, NC contact, normally closed contact, input contact
Antonyms: coil
Practice: can you use “Contact” at work?
During a machine safety review, an engineer must replace a normally open contact with a normally closed contact in the safety circuit rung while maintaining correct logic function.
Show a model answer
“Use a normally closed contact for the emergency stop button to ensure fail-safe operation.”
“Contact” in 21 languages
| English | Contact |
|---|---|
| Turkish | kontak |
| French | contact |
| German | Kontakt |
| Spanish | contacto |
| Chinese | 触点 |
| Arabic | جهة اتصال |
| Portuguese | contato |
| Russian | контакт |
| Japanese | 接点 |
| Italian | contatto |
| Vietnamese | tiếp điểm |
| Hindi | संपर्क |
| Thai | หน้าสัมผัส |
| Indonesian | kontak |
| Korean | 접점 |
| Bengali | যোগাযোগ |
| Dutch | contact |
| Swedish | kontakt |
| Finnish | kosketin |
| Ukrainian | контакт |
Frequently asked questions
What does Contact mean in engineering?
A contact is a ladder logic element that represents a physical input or internal condition. It can be normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) and passes logic state when its associated condition is true. In Mechatronics & Robotics, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Contact?
Contact is pronounced /ˈkɑn.tækt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Contact used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The normally open contact for sensor S1 must be true before the coil for valve V2 can be energized in the rung.”
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