Transfer vs. Convert — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 16, 2024
"Transfer" involves moving something from one place or person to another, whereas "convert" involves changing something from one form or function to another.
Difference Between Transfer and Convert
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Transfer" typically refers to the action of moving or shifting something from one location, person, or situation to another. This can involve tangible items, such as money or physical goods, as well as intangible things like data or responsibilities. "Convert," on the other hand, involves changing the nature, form, or function of something, transforming it into a different state or use. For example, converting currency involves changing money from one denomination to another, whereas transferring money simply involves moving it between accounts.
When discussing technology, transferring data means moving it from one system or storage device to another. Converting data, however, implies changing its format or encoding to make it compatible with different software or systems. Transferring is about relocation, while converting is about transformation.
In the context of energy, transferring energy refers to moving it from one place to another, such as transferring heat from a stove to a pot. Converting energy involves changing it from one form to another, like converting kinetic energy to electrical energy. The focus of transfer is on movement, whereas the focus of conversion is on change in form.
In religious contexts, to transfer membership from one church to another means moving one's affiliation. Converting, in this sense, means changing one's religion or belief system entirely. Thus, transfer deals with a shift within a similar category, whereas conversion involves a fundamental change.
In language use, transferring a word means borrowing it from another language with little or no change. Converting a word involves adapting or transforming it, possibly changing its meaning or form to fit a new linguistic context. Thus, transferring preserves the original form, while converting modifies it.
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Financially, transferring funds means moving money between accounts or entities. Converting funds implies changing them from one currency to another. The distinction lies in whether the action alters the inherent nature of the object in question.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Move something from one place/person to another
Change something from one form to another
Action
Relocation
Transformation
Technology
Moving data between systems
Changing data format
Energy
Moving energy from one place to another
Changing energy from one form to another
Finance
Moving money between accounts
Changing currency
Compare with Definitions
Transfer
To move from one place to another.
I need to transfer the files to a new folder.
Convert
To change from one form or function to another.
The factory converted to producing solar panels.
Transfer
To pass on a right or responsibility.
The authority was transferred to the new manager.
Convert
To adapt something for a new purpose.
They converted the garage into a guest room.
Transfer
Move from one place to another
He intends to transfer the fund's assets to the Treasury
I went to sleep on the couch before transferring to my bedroom later in the night
Convert
To change one's beliefs or religion.
He converted to Buddhism after years of exploration.
Transfer
Change to another place, route, or means of transport during a journey
Passengers have to transfer at Heathrow for onward international flights
Convert
To exchange currency.
She converted her dollars into euros.
Transfer
Make over the possession of (property, a right, or a responsibility) to another
We will transfer full planning responsibility to local authorities
Convert
To change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product; transform
Convert water into ice.
Transfer
Change (the sense of a word or phrase) by extension or metaphor
A transferred use of the Old English noun
Convert
To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another; adapt to a new or different purpose
Convert a forest into farmland.
Transfer
An act of moving something or someone to another place, organization, team, etc.
A transfer of wealth to the EU's poorer nations
A patient had died after transfer from the County Hospital to St Peter's
She asked her boss for a transfer to the city
Convert
To persuade or induce to adopt a particular religion, faith, or belief
Convert pagans to Christianity.
Was converted to pacifism by the war.
Transfer
A small coloured picture or design on paper, which can be transferred to another surface by being pressed or heated
T-shirts with iron-on transfers
Convert
To exchange for something of equal value
Convert assets into cash.
Transfer
An act of changing to another place, route, or means of transport during a journey
Bus transfers between the airport and the city centre cost about £11
Convert
To express (a quantity) in alternative units
Converting feet into meters.
Transfer
To convey or cause to pass from one place, person, or thing to another.
Convert
(Logic) To transform (a proposition) by conversion.
Transfer
(Law) To make over the possession or legal title of (property, for example); convey.
Convert
(Law) To appropriate (another's property) without right to one's own use.
Transfer
To convey (a design, for example) from one surface to another, as by impression.
Convert
To complete (a conversion, penalty shot, or free throw) successfully.
Transfer
To move oneself from one location or job to another.
Convert
To score (a spare) in bowling.
Transfer
To withdraw from one educational institution or course of study and enroll in another.
Convert
To undergo a conversion
We converted to Islam several years ago.
Transfer
To change from one public conveyance to another
Transferred to another bus.
Convert
To be converted
A sofa that converts into a bed.
Arms factories converting to peacetime production.
Transfer
Also trans·fer·al (trăns-fûrəl) The conveyance or removal of something from one place, person, or thing to another.
Convert
(Football) To make a conversion.
Transfer
One who transfers or is transferred, as to a new school.
Convert
(Sports) To shoot and score a goal, especially immediately after receiving a pass or gaining control of a rebound.
Transfer
A design conveyed by contact from one surface to another.
Convert
One who has been converted, especially from one religion or belief to another.
Transfer
A ticket entitling a passenger to change from one public conveyance to another as part of one trip.
Convert
(transitive) To transform or change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product.
A kettle converts water into steam.
Transfer
A place where such a change is made.
Convert
(transitive) To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another.
He converted his garden into a tennis court.
Transfer
Also transferal(Law) A conveyance of title or property from one person to another.
Convert
(transitive) To induce (someone) to adopt a particular religion, faith, ideology or belief see also sense 11.
They converted her to Roman Catholicism on her deathbed.
Transfer
(transitive) To move or pass from one place, person or thing to another.
To transfer the laws of one country to another; to transfer suspicion
Convert
(transitive) To exchange for something of equal value.
We converted our pounds into euros.
Transfer
(transitive) To convey the impression of (something) from one surface to another.
To transfer drawings or engravings to a lithographic stone
Convert
(transitive) To express (a quantity) in alternative units.
Transfer
To exit one mass transit vehicle and board another (typically one belonging to a different line or mode of transportation) to continue a journey.
Transfer to the Blue Line
Convert
(transitive) To express (a unit of measurement) in terms of another; to furnish a mathematical formula by which a quantity, expressed in the former unit, may be given in the latter.
How do you convert feet into metres?
Transfer
(intransitive) To be or become transferred.
Convert
To appropriate wrongfully or unlawfully; to commit the common law tort of conversion.
Transfer
To arrange for something to belong to or be officially controlled by somebody else.
The title to land is transferred by deed.
Convert
To score extra points after (a try) by completing a conversion.
Transfer
(uncountable) The act of conveying or removing something from one place, person or thing to another.
Convert
To score (especially a penalty kick).
Transfer
(countable) An instance of conveying or removing from one place, person or thing to another; a transferal.
Convert
To score a spare.
Transfer
An act of exiting one mass transit vehicle and boarding another (typically one belonging to a different line or mode of transportation) to continue a journey.
Free transfers can be made between the Red and Orange Lines by walking from one of the station's platforms to another; in addition, riders using a fare card also get free transfers between bus and subway at the station.
Convert
(intransitive) To undergo a conversion of religion, faith or belief see also sense 3.
We’ve converted to Methodism.
Transfer
A paper receipt given to a rider of one bus (and historically also certain elevated or subway lines), allowing free entry onto another bus to continue a journey.
Convert
(intransitive) To become converted.
The chair converts into a bed.
Transfer
(countable) A design conveyed by contact from one surface to another; a heat transfer.
Convert
To cause to turn; to turn.
Transfer
A soldier removed from one troop, or body of troops, and placed in another.
Convert
To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.
Transfer
(medicine) A pathological process by which a unilateral morbid condition on being abolished on one side of the body makes its appearance in the corresponding region upon the other side.
Convert
To turn into another language; to translate.
Transfer
(genetics) The conveying of genetic material from one cell to another.
Convert
To increase one's individual score, especially from 50 runs (a fifty) to 100 runs (a century), or from a century to a double or triple century.
Transfer
(bridge) A conventional bid which requests partner to bid the next available suit.
Convert
To perform the action that an online advertisement is intended to induce; to reach the point of conversion.
Each time a user clicks on one of your adverts, you will be charged the bid amount whether the user converts or not.
Transfer
(sports) A person who transfers or is transferred from one club or team to another.
Convert
To transform a material or positional advantage into a win.
Transfer
To convey from one place or person another; to transport, remove, or cause to pass, to another place or person; as, to transfer the laws of one country to another; to transfer suspicion.
Convert
A person who has converted to a religion.
They were all converts to Islam.
Transfer
To make over the possession or control of; to pass; to convey, as a right, from one person to another; to give; as, the title to land is transferred by deed.
Convert
A person who is now in favour of something that he or she previously opposed or disliked.
I never really liked broccoli before, but now that I've tasted it the way you cook it, I'm a convert!
Transfer
To remove from one substance or surface to another; as, to transfer drawings or engravings to a lithographic stone.
Convert
(Canadian football) The equivalent of a conversion in rugby
Transfer
The act of transferring, or the state of being transferred; the removal or conveyance of a thing from one place or person to another.
Convert
To cause to turn; to turn.
O, which way shall I first convert myself?
Transfer
The conveyance of right, title, or property, either real or personal, from one person to another, whether by sale, by gift, or otherwise.
I shall here only consider it as a transfer of property.
Convert
To change or turn from one state or condition to another; to alter in form, substance, or quality; to transform; to transmute; as, to convert water into ice.
If the whole atmosphere were converted into water.
That still lessensThe sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Transfer
That which is transferred.
Convert
To change or turn from one belief or course to another, as from one religion to another or from one party or sect to another.
No attempt was made to convert the Moslems.
Transfer
A picture, or the like, removed from one body or ground to another, as from wood to canvas, or from one piece of canvas to another.
Convert
To produce the spiritual change called conversion in (any one); to turn from a bad life to a good one; to change the heart and moral character of (any one) from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness.
He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death.
Transfer
A pathological process by virtue of which a unilateral morbid condition on being abolished on one side of the body makes its appearance in the corresponding region upon the other side.
Convert
To apply to any use by a diversion from the proper or intended use; to appropriate dishonestly or illegally.
When a bystander took a coin to get it changed, and converted it, [it was] held no larceny.
Transfer
A drawing or writing printed off from one surface on another, as in ceramics and in many decorative arts.
Convert
To exchange for some specified equivalent; as, to convert goods into money.
Transfer
A soldier removed from one troop, or body of troops, and placed in another.
Convert
To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.
Transfer
The act of transporting something from one location to another
Convert
To turn into another language; to translate.
Which story . . . Catullus more elegantly converted.
Transfer
Someone who transfers or is transferred from one position to another;
The best student was a transfer from LSU
Convert
To be turned or changed in character or direction; to undergo a change, physically or morally.
If Nebo had had the preaching that thou hast, they [the Neboites] would have converted.
A red dust which converth into worms.
The public hopeAnd eye to thee converting.
Transfer
The act of transfering something from one form to another;
The transfer of the music from record to tape suppressed much of the background noise
Convert
A person who is converted from one opinion or practice to another; a person who is won over to, or heartily embraces, a creed, religious system, or party, in which he has not previously believed; especially, one who turns from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness, or from unbelief to Christianity.
The Jesuits did not persuade the converts to lay aside the use of images.
Transfer
A ticket that allows a passenger to change conveyances
Convert
A lay friar or brother, permitted to enter a monastery for the service of the house, but without orders, and not allowed to sing in the choir.
Transfer
Application of a skill learned in one situation to a different but similar situation
Convert
A person who has been converted to another religious or political belief
Transfer
Transferring ownership
Convert
Change the nature, purpose, or function of something;
Convert lead into gold
Convert hotels into jails
Convert slaves to laborers
Transfer
Move around;
Transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket
Convert
Change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy;
We converted from 220 to 110 Volt
Transfer
Transfer somebody to a different position or location of work
Convert
Change religious beliefs, or adopt a religious belief;
She converted to Buddhism
Transfer
Move from one place to another;
Transfer the data
Transmit the news
Transfer the patient to another hospital
Convert
Exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category;
Could you convert my dollars into pounds?
He changed his name
Convert centimeters into inches
Convert holdings into shares
Transfer
Lift and reset in another soil or situation;
Transplant the young rice plants
Convert
Cause to adopt a new or different faith;
The missionaries converted the Indian population
Transfer
Cause to change ownership;
I transferred my stock holdings to my children
Convert
Score an extra point or points after touchdown by kicking the ball through the uprights or advancing the ball into the endzone;
Smith converted and his team won
Transfer
Change from one vehicle or transportation line to another;
She changed in Chicago on her way to the East coast
Convert
Complete successfully;
Score a penalty shot or free throw
Transfer
Send from one person or place to another;
Transmit a message
Convert
Score (a spare)
Transfer
Shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes;
He removed his children to the countryside
Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city
Remove a case to another court
Convert
Make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something;
He had finally convinced several customers of the advantages of his product
Transfer
Transfer from one place or period to another;
The ancient Greek story was transplanted into Modern America
Convert
Exchange a penalty for a less severe one
Transfer
To convey from one person or entity to another.
She transferred the ownership of the car to her son.
Convert
Change in nature, purpose, or function; especially undergo a chemical change;
The substance converts to an acid
Transfer
To relocate for a job or position.
He was transferred to the New York office.
Convert
To alter the format or coding of data.
The software can convert text files to PDFs.
Transfer
To shift focus or attention.
She transferred her attention from work to her family.
Common Curiosities
Can you transfer data between devices?
Yes, transferring data means moving it from one device to another without altering its format.
What does it mean to transfer money?
Transferring money means moving funds from one account to another.
How does converting currency work?
Converting currency involves exchanging money from one denomination to another.
What does it mean to convert a file?
Converting a file means changing its format, such as from a .doc to a .pdf.
What is an example of converting energy?
Converting energy includes changing kinetic energy to electrical energy.
How do you convert measurements?
Converting measurements involves changing units, such as from inches to centimeters.
How does transferring ownership work?
Transferring ownership involves legally moving ownership rights from one person to another.
Is transferring a job different from converting a role?
Yes, transferring a job means moving to a new position or location, whereas converting a role involves changing the nature or function of the job.
Is transferring property different from converting property?
Yes, transferring property means changing ownership, while converting property involves changing its use or structure.
What does it mean to transfer membership?
Transferring membership means moving your affiliation from one organization to another.
What does converting a video involve?
Converting a video involves changing its format, such as from .avi to .mp4.
Is there a difference between transferring and converting in programming?
Yes, transferring data means moving it, while converting data means changing its format or structure.
Can you convert a building?
Yes, converting a building means changing its function, like turning a warehouse into apartments.
What does transferring a call mean?
Transferring a call means moving the phone call from one line or person to another.
How does one convert to a new religion?
Converting to a new religion involves adopting new beliefs and practices different from one’s previous faith.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
