What are Small Switching Transistors?

Small Switching Transistors are transistors that are used primarily as switches but which can also be used as amplifiers.

Typical hFE values for small switching transistors range from 10 to 200, with maximum Ic ratings from about 10 to 1000mA.

They come in npn and pnp forms.

As a design note, small switching transistors are used primarily as switches. Though they may be used as an amplifier, their hFE value only ranges to about 200, which means they are not capable of the amplification of small signal transistors, which can have amplification of up to 500. This makes small switching transistors more useful for switching, though they may be used as basic amplifiers to provide gain. When you need more gain, small signal transistors would work better as amplifiers.