Power windows or electric windows are automobile windows which can be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch of some sort, as opposed to using a hand-turned crank. The power moonroof, a transparent, retractable sunroof, may be considered as an extension of the power window concept.
Power windows have come under some scrutiny after several fatal accidents in which children's necks have become trapped, leading to suffocation. Some designs place the switch in a location on a handrest where it can be accidentally triggered by a child climbing to place his or her head out of the window. To prevent this, many vehicles feature a driver-controlled lockout switch, preventing rear-seat passengers (usually smaller children) from accidentally triggering the switches.