What is the difference between background fetch and background refresh?

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What is the difference between background fetch and background refresh?

Background fetch and background refresh are two different features in iOS that allow apps to update their content and data in the background.

Background fetch is a feature that allows apps to periodically fetch new content or data from the network even when the app is not actively running in the foreground. This feature is useful for apps that need to keep their content up to date, such as news or social media apps. The system determines the optimal time to perform the fetch based on factors like device usage patterns and battery life.

On the other hand, background refresh is a feature that allows apps to refresh their content and update their data in the background when the device is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular network. This feature is useful for apps that need to update their data regularly, such as email or weather apps. The system provides the app with a limited amount of time to perform the refresh, and it may prioritize which apps get to refresh based on factors like battery life and network conditions.

In summary, the main difference between background fetch and background refresh is that background fetch is focused on fetching new content from the network, while background refresh is focused on refreshing and updating existing data.