Method for operating a cooktop having a plurality of heating elements, comprising the steps: - detecting a cookware element by means of a detection arrangement, - forming a heating zone adapted to the detected cookware element from one or more heating elements by means of a control unit and characterised by - setting at least one target temperature of the heating zone by means of a user interface, wherein the steps: - detecting a process, which comprises the removal of the cookware element from a starting position and the subsequent placing of a cookware element in an end position within a predetermined time, - independently associating the process with one of at least two cases by the control unit by means of identifying a change in measurement data of the detection arrangement which is greater than a threshold value determined by a measuring accuracy of the detection arrangement, wherein the process: i) is interpreted at least in a first case as a movement of the same cookware element from the starting position into the end position, ii) is interpreted in a further case as a removal of the cookware element from the starting position and the placing of another cookware element in the end position, - moving the heating zone into the area of the end position subsequent to the process and carrying over the at least one set target temperature for the moved heating zone by the control unit at least in the first case, - setting the target temperature to a default value by the control unit in the further case. - detecting a cookware element by means of a detection arrangement, - forming a heating zone adapted to the detected cookware element from one or more heating elements by means of a control unit and characterised by - setting at least one target temperature of the heating zone by means of a user interface, - detecting a process, which comprises the removal of the cookware element from a starting position and the subsequent placing of a cookware element in an end position within a predetermined time, - independently associating the process with one of at least two cases by the control unit by means of identifying a change in measurement data of the detection arrangement which is greater than a threshold value determined by a measuring accuracy of the detection arrangement, wherein the process: i) is interpreted at least in a first case as a movement of the same cookware element from the starting position into the end position, ii) is interpreted in a further case as a removal of the cookware element from the starting position and the placing of another cookware element in the end position, i) is interpreted at least in a first case as a movement of the same cookware element from the starting position into the end position, ii) is interpreted in a further case as a removal of the cookware element from the starting position and the placing of another cookware element in the end position, - moving the heating zone into the area of the end position subsequent to the process and carrying over the at least one set target temperature for the moved heating zone by the control unit at least in the first case, - setting the target temperature to a default value by the control unit in the further case.