Think of 'map onto' as aligning one thing over another, like overlaying images.

Visual Imagery

Used figuratively, not implying an actual map or physical geography.

Not Literal

Its meaning varies by context, often implying precision, alignment or similarity.

In math, 'map onto' describes a theoretical concept rather than physical action.

In math, mapping onto implies each element in one set pairs with one in another.

In computing, 'map onto' means assigning values with specific rules or algorithms.

Mapping in computing often involves linking an input directly to an output.