A motor starter is an electrically operated set of contacts that starts and stops the connected motor load. A control circuit with momentary contact devices connected to the coil of the magnetic motor starter performs this start and stop function.

The primary function of a motor starter is to start and stop the motor to which it is connected. These are specially designed electromechanical switches similar to relays. The main difference between a relay and a starter is that a starter contains overload protection for the motor.

So the purpose of the starter is twofold, i.e., to switch the power automatically or manually to a motor and at the same time protect the motor from overload or faults.