Household appliance having - at least one electrically actuated device-type-specific device component (4a-4f) which is designed to execute an operating function which is characteristic of the type of household appliance, - a control apparatus (5a-5f) which is designed to actuate the device-type-specific device component (4a-4f) and - an input apparatus which is electrically connected to the control apparatus (5a-5f) and which is arranged so as to be visible to a user and able to be operated on the household appliance, - wherein the input apparatus has a display means (6, 6a), wherein the input apparatus additionally has at least one programmable input means (7a-7e), - and the input apparatus further has a programmable control device in which at least two programs, which are differently designed to actuate a corresponding number of different types of household appliance are stored, said programs each being designed for device-type-specific communication between the at least one programmable input means and the control apparatus (5a-5f), - and which is designed to activate only that program which corresponds to the type of household appliance which is connected to the input apparatus, on the basis of the type of household appliance where the input apparatus is connected to the control apparatus (5a-5f) thereof, - wherein the input apparatus further has at least one switch (9a, 9b), - wherein the input apparatus has electrical contacts which are connected to the at least one switch (9a, 9b) and which are electrically connected to counter-contacts of the household appliance when the input apparatus is mounted in the household appliance, characterised in that - the switch (9a, 9b) is an on/off switch for the household appliance, - and the counter-contacts of the household appliance are directly connected to electrical power cables and/or conducted to a mains power supply and/or brought into contact with a printed circuit board conducting a mains voltage. - at least one electrically actuated device-type-specific device component (4a-4f) which is designed to execute an operating function which is characteristic of the type of household appliance, - a control apparatus (5a-5f) which is designed to actuate the device-type-specific device component (4a-4f) and - an input apparatus which is electrically connected to the control apparatus (5a-5f) and which is arranged so as to be visible to a user and able to be operated on the household appliance, - wherein the input apparatus has a display means (6, 6a), wherein the input apparatus additionally has at least one programmable input means (7a-7e), - and the input apparatus further has a programmable control device in which at least two programs, which are differently designed to actuate a corresponding number of different types of household appliance are stored, said programs each being designed for device-type-specific communication between the at least one programmable input means and the control apparatus (5a-5f), - and which is designed to activate only that program which corresponds to the type of household appliance which is connected to the input apparatus, on the basis of the type of household appliance where the input apparatus is connected to the control apparatus (5a-5f) thereof, - wherein the input apparatus further has at least one switch (9a, 9b), - wherein the input apparatus has electrical contacts which are connected to the at least one switch (9a, 9b) and which are electrically connected to counter-contacts of the household appliance when the input apparatus is mounted in the household appliance, - the switch (9a, 9b) is an on/off switch for the household appliance, - and the counter-contacts of the household appliance are directly connected to electrical power cables and/or conducted to a mains power supply and/or brought into contact with a printed circuit board conducting a mains voltage.