["< sod > a'''thermostat'''is a component which senses the [ [ temperature ] ] of a [ [ system ] ] so that both the system's appropriate temperature is maintained near a desired desired'' setpoint''. the thermostat does this by switching heating or cooling devices on or off, or regulating the flow of a heat transfer fluid as needed, to maintain the correct temperature. thermostats are used extensively in any device or system that heats or cools to a setpoint temperature, several examples include building [ [ heating ] ], [ [ central temperature heating ] ], [ [ both air conditioning | air conditioners ] ], [ [ hvac ] ] systems, as well as kitchen equipment including [ [ oven ] ] s and [ [ refrigerator ] ] s and medical and scientific [ [ incubator ( culture ) | incubator ] ] s. < eod > < sod > a'''thermostat'''is just a component which senses the [ [ temperature ] ] temperature of a [ [ operating system ] ] so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired'' setpoint''. < eod >"]