An electronic switching element made of vitreous semiconductor materials is described. The switch changes from high to low conductivity or vice versa without changing its state of matter. A plurality of contact electrodes is disposed thereon, and no barrier layer is present. In order to switch from a low conductive to a high conductive state, a highly conductive channel is produced intermediate a control electrode and a base electrode by a control current flowing over the control electrode and the base electrodes. The aforementioned channel expands when the control current increases. Upon a sufficient increase in the size of the channel in the direction of a load electrode, a channel of large conductivity is produced connecting the load electrode and the base electrode over which a load current can proceed. This load current channel is maintained upon interruption of the control current, until, by lowering the auxiliary voltage under a predetermined value, the high conductive state is switched to a low conductive state. The load current is then interrupted.
