An optical switching element having a simple configuration and high response and capable of performing gradation display by area gradation is provided. In a state where a light extracting portion is in contact with an upper substrate, light enters the light extracting portion from the upper substrate, emits from the back face of the light extracting portion, is passed through a lower substrate, and becomes transmission light. In a state where the light extracting portion is attracted by the lower substrate side, the incident light is totally reflected by a total reflection face, and total reflection light emits from a V-shaped groove. The incident light can be switched in two directions and obtained as the transmission light and the total reflection light. To display one pixel, in the light extracting portion and a plurality of other light extracting portions, the incident light is selectively taken by being switched between two directions of the transmission light and the total reflection light, thereby enabling the gradation display by area gradation to be performed.