The latching device for a rotationally or translationally movable operating element is provided with a resiliently mounted latching projection and with a latching guideway which is in sliding contact with the latching projection and which has a plurality of latching depressions with latching elevations arranged between them. The latching depressions and the latching elevations form a substantially corrugated latching path along which the latching projection slides during a relative movement between latching guideway and latching projection. The latching projection has a surface which contacts the latching path along at least one contact line running substantially transversely to the longitudinal extent of the latching path. When sliding along the latching path, the latching projection experiences an upward and downward movement with periodic change of the orientation of its contact line with respect to the latching guideway.