But it's taken some time for UX paradigms to coalesce around this -- simply because checkboxes used to be used for both, until Apple "invented" toggles for instantly-applied settings in iOS.
Now that Apple finally implemented toggles in System Settings in macOS Ventura, the paradigm is largely consistent in desktop software on Macs. Toggles apply a setting instantly, while checkboxes are used within an "OK/Cancel" dialog.
But I think because it's taken so long for toggles to "spread", a lot of users and developers have an instinctual understanding that toggle = instant, but haven't always been able to articulate it.
But it's taken some time for UX paradigms to coalesce around this -- simply because checkboxes used to be used for both, until Apple "invented" toggles for instantly-applied settings in iOS.
Now that Apple finally implemented toggles in System Settings in macOS Ventura, the paradigm is largely consistent in desktop software on Macs. Toggles apply a setting instantly, while checkboxes are used within an "OK/Cancel" dialog.
But I think because it's taken so long for toggles to "spread", a lot of users and developers have an instinctual understanding that toggle = instant, but haven't always been able to articulate it.