A well-known carbazole-based precursor (probe 1) was used for the detection of cysteine/homocysteine and fluoride. Probe 1 shows a "turn-on" response to cysteine/homocysteine and fluoride via enhancement in emission intensity at 442 nm and 462 nm respectively, in solutions and living cells. Furthermore, probe 1 behaves as a fluorescent molecular switch between cysteine/homocysteine and fluoride as the chemical inputs, which have been used for the development of a combinatorial logic circuit and a molecular keypad lock.