Thermostats are vital to ensure that both you and your snake are being kept safe and secure. These allow you to control the temperatures in the enclosure, meaning that its always perfect for your snake, and also safe from over heating in your house.
There is a big variety of thermostats, which can be confusing at the start. On/Off or Mat Stats are basic thermostats which turn the heat source on or off as required, and are best used with heat mats. Pulse thermostats are a step up from this, and are great for ceramic heaters and heat cables, pulsing the right levels of power to them as needed. A more sophisticated type of thermostat is a dimming thermostat, which is for visual light bulbs, such as basking bulbs, by dimming their power to control the temperature they create.
A more advanced option is an all in one digital unit, such as the Microclimate EVO, which controls 2 sources, up to 600w on each, and will act as a on/off, pulse or dimming stat, whichever you need. This also has the capability to act as a timer and control lighting as well, providing you with everything you need to ensure your snake is kept in tip top condition.