Display element for a display device , wherein the display element has a luminous display function and an operating function, the display element for the luminous display function comprising: - a display housing , - a light conducting channel in the display housing , extending continuously from a bottom side up to an upper side of the display housing, - wherein the light conducting channel is laterally closed and impervious to light, - on the upper side of the display housing , an opaque coating is applied on the light conducting channel , - at least on two outer sides of the display housing , inelastic spacers (32a-d) are provided, which spacers protrude beyond the upper side of the light conducting channel and which are composed of electrically conductive material for the operating function, in order to provide a capacitive sensor element on top of the display element for a capacitive operating sensor, - on opposite outer sides (30a-d) of the display housing are provided in each case one holding member projecting downwards and protruding downwards beyond a bottom side of the light conducting channel , - wherein the electrically conductive spacers (32a-d) are configured to be electrically contacted downwards by means of electrically conductive material for electrical connection to the capacitive sensor element, characterized in that - the electrically conductive material of the spacers (32a-d), on the outer sides (30a-d) of the display housing , transitions integrally into the holding members for producing an electrical contact upon fastening of the display element to the holding members on a component support , - thereby the holding members are inserted into corresponding holes in the component support. - a display housing , - a light conducting channel in the display housing , extending continuously from a bottom side up to an upper side of the display housing, - wherein the light conducting channel is laterally closed and impervious to light, - on the upper side of the display housing , an opaque coating is applied on the light conducting channel , - at least on two outer sides of the display housing , inelastic spacers (32a-d) are provided, which spacers protrude beyond the upper side of the light conducting channel and which are composed of electrically conductive material for the operating function, in order to provide a capacitive sensor element on top of the display element for a capacitive operating sensor, - on opposite outer sides (30a-d) of the display housing are provided in each case one holding member projecting downwards and protruding downwards beyond a bottom side of the light conducting channel , - wherein the electrically conductive spacers (32a-d) are configured to be electrically contacted downwards by means of electrically conductive material for electrical connection to the capacitive sensor element, characterized in that - the electrically conductive material of the spacers (32a-d), on the outer sides (30a-d) of the display housing , transitions integrally into the holding members for producing an electrical contact upon fastening of the display element to the holding members on a component support , - thereby the holding members are inserted into corresponding holes in the component support. <EOS>