P Switch

P-Switches (also known as Switch Blocks in Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros., and New Super Mario Bros. Wii) are items found in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros., and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Some fans mistakenly call this item a POW Block.

When pressed, a P-Switch changes something in the stage for a limited amount of time. This includes:
 * Turning Brick Blocks (Used Blocks in Super Mario World) into coins.
 * Turning coins into Brick Blocks (Used Blocks in Super Mario World).
 * Changing enemies into Silver Coins (Super Mario World gray switches only).
 * Turning Munchers into coins (requires gray switch in SMW, but was never used)
 * Allowing Mario to access a hidden door. (Appears as a white light in SMB3 and a blue door in SMW. Appears as a normal door in all other games.)
 * Making hidden Coins appear (silver or light blue in many games).
 * Making hidden Question Blocks appear.
 * Stopping conveyor belts from moving (SMB3 only)

One rather confusing thing is that a Brick Block with an item inside it will look like a coin, but act like a block. This confusion was removed in the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3.

In SMB3, a P-Switch can cause the animations of Question Mark Blocks, Brick Blocks, and ♩ Blocks to stop (except in Super Mario Advance 4). In addition, reversed coins and bricks don't have any animation (again, except in SMA4).

In Super Mario World, the gray version of the P-Switch makes most enemies turn into Silver Coins. Collecting eight of these coins awards Mario a 1-Up. Collecting one more gets Mario a 2-Up. After nine coins, Mario will earn 3-Ups for each additional coin.

Also in SMW, gray P-Switches can turn Munchers into regular coins. However, this was never actually used in the original game. SMW is the only game in which P-Switches can be carried by Mario and saved for later. In all other games, Mario can't carry the switches and must use them right where they appear.

P-Switches will also appear in the upcoming Nintendo 3DS game, Super Mario 3D. Here, they are flatten with a light blue "P" printed. When pressed, they become totally red.