On Fri, 23 Dec 2016 16:01:28 -0000, "James Wilkinson Sword"
wrote:

On Fri, 23 Dec 2016 02:19:20 -0000, wrote:


What country is a better question.
The part you are missing is "wall switch". This is a switch near the
door that controls a receptacle somewhere in the room. (for a lamp)
It is not a switch right on the receptacle.

Makes more sense to have the switch no the socket, then it's clear what it's for and where to find it.

If the receptacle has a lamp plugged into it and you are entering the
room, a switch on the wall by the door is a whole lot more convenient
than pulling out the table and reaching behind it to get to the
switch. ;-)

This is actually driven by the code. It is required to have a
lighting outlet (luminaire or a receptacle) in every habitable room.
Nobody feels the need for a switch at every receptacle since virtually
all equipment has a switch on it.