The invention relates to an apparatus for position detection having a magnet and a sensing element which has switched states or parameter values depending on the magnetic field generated by the magnet, with the apparatus furthermore having a means for influencing the magnetic field, with the means being made and arranged such that different switched states or parameter values of the sensing element can be generated in dependence on the position of the magnet, the sensing element and the means for influencing the magnetic field with respect to one another.