Switching circuits are electrical circuits designed to control the flow of electricity by opening or closing paths. They use components like transistors, relays, and switches to manage the on-off states of devices. This allows for efficient control of power in various applications, from simple light switches to complex computer systems. In digital electronics, switching circuits form the basis of logic gates, which perform operations like AND, OR, and NOT. These gates are essential for processing information in computers and other digital devices, enabling them to perform calculations and make decisions based on input signals.