Method for operating an electric switch having at least one movable switch contact which is moved by a movable armature of an electromagnetic actuator in order to switch the switch on and off, - wherein a spring device is disposed between the movable switch contact and the armature, and - wherein, in order to move the armature from a predefined starting position (Xa), in which the switch contacts of the switch are open, into a predefined armature end position (Xe), in which the switch contacts are closed and spring energy is stored in the spring device, a magnetic flux is generated in an excitation winding of the actuator by way of an excitation current (I(t)) being fed into the excitation winding, characterized in that - the magnetic flux through the excitation winding or a flux variable correlating to the magnetic flux through the excitation winding is determined and a flux value (Φist(t)) is formed, - the magnetomotive force in the excitation winding is determined with consideration for at least the excitation current (I(t)) flowing through the excitation winding and the number of turns of the excitation winding, and a magnetomotive value (Θ(t)) is formed, and - with consideration for a position data set which indicates the particular armature position as a function of magnetomotive values and flux values, an armature position - referred to in the following as the contact strike armature position (Xc) - is determined at which the switch contacts meet each other during the closing operation, before the armature reaches the armature end position (Xe), - wherein, in order to move the armature from the starting position (Xa) into the end position, the magnetic flux through the excitation winding is regulated, specifically in such a way that the progression of the flux value (Φist(t)) - in at least one time interval before the armature reaches the contact strike armature position (Xc) - has a fixedly predefined setpoint flux progression, - wherein the magnetic flux through the excitation winding is regulated to a predefined constant setpoint flux (Φconst1), by means of a constant flux regulation, in the at least one time interval before the armature reaches the contact strike armature position (Xc), - wherein the constant flux regulation is terminated or is switched to another setpoint flux (Φconst2) as soon as the armature reaches the contact strike armature position (Xc), - by way of the magnetic flux being reduced by reducing the excitation current (I(t)) flowing through the excitation winding. - wherein a spring device is disposed between the movable switch contact and the armature, and - wherein, in order to move the armature from a predefined starting position (Xa), in which the switch contacts of the switch are open, into a predefined armature end position (Xe), in which the switch contacts are closed and spring energy is stored in the spring device, a magnetic flux is generated in an excitation winding of the actuator by way of an excitation current (I(t)) being fed into the excitation winding, characterized in that - the magnetic flux through the excitation winding or a flux variable correlating to the magnetic flux through the excitation winding is determined and a flux value (Φist(t)) is formed, - the magnetomotive force in the excitation winding is determined with consideration for at least the excitation current (I(t)) flowing through the excitation winding and the number of turns of the excitation winding, and a magnetomotive value (Θ(t)) is formed, and - with consideration for a position data set which indicates the particular armature position as a function of magnetomotive values and flux values, an armature position - referred to in the following as the contact strike armature position (Xc) - is determined at which the switch contacts meet each other during the closing operation, before the armature reaches the armature end position (Xe), - wherein, in order to move the armature from the starting position (Xa) into the end position, the magnetic flux through the excitation winding is regulated, specifically in such a way that the progression of the flux value (Φist(t)) - in at least one time interval before the armature reaches the contact strike armature position (Xc) - has a fixedly predefined setpoint flux progression, - wherein the magnetic flux through the excitation winding is regulated to a predefined constant setpoint flux (Φconst1), by means of a constant flux regulation, in the at least one time interval before the armature reaches the contact strike armature position (Xc), - wherein the constant flux regulation is terminated or is switched to another setpoint flux (Φconst2) as soon as the armature reaches the contact strike armature position (Xc), - by way of the magnetic flux being reduced by reducing the excitation current (I(t)) flowing through the excitation winding.