Save something to vs Save something on/onto
I would like to know the difference in meaning between "to save something to" and "to save something on/onto" in the context of technology.

Here are a couple of example sentences:

- Save the file to the hard disk.
- You can save the data on/onto your hard disk.

What does it imply "to save something to"?
What does it imply "to save something on/onto"?

Also, I wonder if "to save something ONTO" is idiomatic.

If I say "Save the photo/document/audio TO/ON the computer/phone/camera/ipad", do they both mean the same?

If I say "Save the photo/document/audio TO/ON 'C:\Windows\' ", do they both mean the same?

Question

Save something to vs Save something on/onto
I would like to know the difference in meaning between "to save something to" and "to save something on/onto" in the context of technology.

Here are a couple of example sentences:

- Save the file to the hard disk.
        - You can save the data on/onto your hard disk.

What does it imply "to save something to"?
What does it imply "to save something on/onto"?

Also, I wonder if "to save something ONTO" is idiomatic.

If I say "Save the photo/document/audio TO/ON the computer/phone/camera/ipad", do they both mean the same?

If I say "Save the photo/document/audio TO/ON 'C:\Windows\' ", do they both mean the same?

Answer

I wonder whether "to save onto" comes from a past time, when the physical object (vinyl record, tape cassette, compact disc...) was more important.  Now, data exists everywhere.

>> "Save the photo/document/audio TO/ON the computer/phone/camera/ipad"
To me, the same thing.

>> "Save the photo/document/audio TO/ON 'C:\Windows\' "
Here I would prefer "to", because 'C:\Windows\' is more like an address/place, and not a thing. In this case "on" sounds a bit weird to me.

I expect in 5 years' time, these meanings will have evolved further

Answer

The meaning is incredibly similar - it's just a different use of prepositions. For me, the feeling of 'onto' is stronger and I envisage the data going on, rather than the more passive 'to'. They can be used interchangeably.

Thanks

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