Is there any difference between switch and swap?
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Depending on the research you've done, there might be differences in specialist usage. With no research, there's no useful difference. What did your dictionaries, thesauruses or search engines leave unclear, please?– Robbie GoodwinCommented Mar 15, 2018 at 20:24
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3 Answers
Swap means "exchange", while switch means "change".
When you swap something, you replace something with something else:
house swap, wife swap
When you switch something, you move from something to something else:
Switch language, switch flight
answered Apr 27, 2011 at 20:16
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Swap(to me) implies replacing some physical object with another.Switchmeans changes from some property, location, or attribute to another. Commented Apr 27, 2011 at 20:27 -
2Also, swapping usually implies exactly two entities having a role in the play. Commented Apr 27, 2011 at 20:29
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For swap, I think "interchange" is better word than "exchange". See english.stackexchange.com/questions/34545/… Commented Jan 21, 2012 at 4:08
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Whatever else, I think "interchange" has no place here. Either "swap" or "switch" might mean "change" but doesn't "interchange" broadly mean something like "junction" or "cross-over"? Commented Mar 15, 2018 at 20:21
In "ordinary" usage probably not.
In technical use there are differences depending on the field
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For instance, <code>switch</code> is a construct in some programming languages, and "swapping" in programming is swapping the values of two variables.– compmanCommented Apr 27, 2011 at 20:00
Switching simply means replacing something with something else, or moving from one state to another state. Here is an example: John switched off the lights; it means lights were on and John changed the state from on to off.
Swap normally happens between two people, they want to give and take something to/from each other, usually the items or the actions are identical, although this rule is not set in stone. Example: Feel free to swap out certain ingredients in recipes if you feel like it.
See the difference ? Anyway you could check out my site https://bigben.academy/how-to-correctly-use-swap-switch-change-and-exchange/ to have a better understanding.
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1EL&U focuses on authoritative answers from respected sources. This answer does not provide that. Promotion of personal commerical websites is also frowned upon.– DW256Commented Sep 14, 2021 at 3:16
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Answers saying "look elsewhere" are not welcome, I'm afraid. Answers to Stack Exchange questions are expected to be complete in themselves. Disregarding the link, this answer is actually unclear.– Andrew Leach ♦Commented Sep 14, 2021 at 5:47