Programmable conduction mode control for switching circuits

A control system that controls a switching circuit having a switching element and an inductive element coupled to an output of the switching element. The control system includes a switching control circuit that controls the switching element to operate the switching circuit in a first conduction mode of operation, such as a boundary conduction mode (BCM), in which current in the inductive element is maintained at a non-zero level during a first time period within each switching cycle. A conduction mode control circuit is configured for switching the switching circuit into a second conduction mode of operation, such as a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), in which current in the inductive element is maintained at a non-zero level during a second time period within each switching cycle. The first time period differs from the second time period.