This document discusses using pull-up and pull-down resistors with a microcontroller input pin connected to a switch. Without a resistor, the pin would float high when the switch is open. A pull-up resistor connects the pin to the power supply through a resistor, keeping it high when open but pulling it low when the switch closes. A pull-down connects the pin to ground through a resistor instead, pulling it low when open but high when the switch closes. The resistor prevents shorts and allows clean high/low signals on the input pin.