Hi. Yes, the switch toggles through the modes. Click to turn on, click to turn off, click on again in next mode, click off, click on in 3rd mode, etc. I too am guessing there's some sort of micro controller in it. I was / am hoping someone knows a way to modify it to just be on in the high position and off. It has high / medium / low / fast strobe / slow strobe. It was a cheap light but it's perfect for my purposes. I'd just like it better if was on and off. It's kind of a pain cycling through all five modes to get back to high.