Inconsistent Actions With "Dim Screen Brightness" Key (F1)

On the MacBook Pro, the F1 key is automatically mapped to dim the screen brightness. However, sometimes when I press this key, the screen shuts off (or at least goes to the lowest brightness setting) and other times it just goes down a single brightness point.
I can't figure out why it does one thing sometimes and another thing other times. Is there some logic afoot here? Or just whatever MacOS feels like on the day?
thanks,
tom

Could this be due to the present brightness of the screen or are you saying it could be at 90% brightness, then you press the F1 key, and the backlight turns off?
If it is dark in the room, the screen can be at its lowest setting, then pressing F1 will turn off the backlight.

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