An operating element is provided that has a control knob, which is mounted in a housing, a console, or the like, and can move in a swiveling manner between a home position and multiple switching or contact positions. In order to design the operating element in a simple way, a central momentary switch that establishes the switch actuation point of the operating element and has a haptic function is associated with the control knob, and the momentary switch is actuated each time the control knob is swiveled out of its home position by a predefined angle toward a switching or contact position.