With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. There are two terminals in a one way light switch.

Two Way Lighting Circuit Wiring Sparkyfacts Co Uk
Wiring a one way light switch uk. To switch from two locations youll need 2 two way switches and wire them together in a particular way. Wiring a 3 way light switch. The other terminal is marked as l1 and is the output to the light fixture. The switch just connects the two wires together when it is on. Although technically it doesnt matter which way round you connect the wires it is best to stick to convention and connect the permanemt live from the supply to com and the switched live to the lamp. A two way light switch can also be used in in place of a one way light switch in this instance the red wire from the feed cable is connected to the common c terminal and the red wire going to the light is connected to the l1 terminal.
Typically these terminals will be marked com and l1 sometimes l1 and l2. The l2 terminal is unused. A metal light switch must be earthed as seen below. As described on the other pages the two switch wires are both live. Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram. Wiring a two way switch.
Wiring a one way switch. When the switch is on both terminals are connected together. A commonc l1 and l2. This is very useful in a number places particularly hallways and stairs. A two way switch has 3 terminals. Danger as one of the switch wires will always be live always turn off the power at the consumer unit before replacing a light switch.
Two way switching allows you to control a light from two locations. A one way light switch has two terminals which is a common marked as com or c. The common is for the live wire that supplies the input voltage to the switch.