Which valve has a local position indicator, which means the open or closed position can be verified visually?

• A. Butterfly valve
• B. Globe valve
• C. Gate valve
• D. Ball valve

Answer: (A)

The key idea is being able to tell the valve’s state right at the valve itself without guessing or using gauges. A butterfly valve has a disk that rotates to open or close, and its position is read directly from the valve body or top alignment—the handle position and a small indicator show whether the disk is parallel to the flow (open) or perpendicular (closed). That built-in, visible indicator lets you verify open or closed at a glance.

Other valve types don’t provide as straightforward a local visual readout: globe, gate, and ball valves may require looking at the stem travel, the number of turns, or relying on the handle orientation alone, which isn’t always a direct read of the valve’s internal state.