What is "selective fire"

n. (label en firearms) The ability to choose whether a weapon fires automatically or semi-automatically.

A selective-fire firearm has at least two firearm modes, which are activated by means of a selector which varies depending on the weapon's design. Some selective-fire weapons have burst fire mechanisms to limit the maximum number of shots fired automatically in this mode. The most common limits are two or three rounds per trigger pull. Fully automatic fire refers to the ability for a weapon to fire continuously until the feeding mechanism is either emptied or the trigger is released. Semi-automatic refers to the ability to fire one round per trigger pull.

The presence of selective-fire modes on firearms permits more efficient use of rounds to be fired for specific needs, versus having a single mode of operation, such as fully automatic, thereby conserving ammunition while maximizing on-target accuracy and effectiveness. This capability is most commonly found on assault rifles and military weapons of the 20th and 21st centuries.