Solenoid as an actuator is a solenoid operated valve.

They are used to control the directions

of pressurized air or oil and used to operate devices, such as piston moving in a cylinder.

Pressurized air hydraulic fluid is input from port P which is connected to the power supply
from a pump or compressor and port T is connected to hydraulic fluid return to the supply
tank or in the case of a pneumatic system.

The hydraulic fluid or pressurized air is fed to the right of the piston and exhausted from the
left, the result being the movement of the piston to the left.

When a current is passed through a solenoid, the spool valve switches the hydraulic fluid or
pressurized air to left of the piston and exhaust from the right.

The valve has four ports A, B, P and T and two control positions. 4/2 valve.

Basic symbol for a valve is a square, with one square used to describe each of the control
positions.

With each square the switching positions are then described by arrows to indicate a flow
direction, or a terminated line to indicate no flow path.