What is the difference between a hard reset and a soft reset on an iPhone?

A hard reset is a method used to force an iPhone to reboot without needing to first go through the regular shutdown process. This is particularly useful in situations where the device is unresponsive or frozen, as it effectively clears any temporary issues that may be preventing normal operation. During a hard reset, the device is forced to shut down and restart, allowing the operating system to reload fresh and potentially resolve issues.

This is distinct from other methods of resetting the device. For example, a soft reset, which might involve simply turning the device off and on again or using specific key combinations, does not force the device to reboot in the same manner and typically doesn't resolve more serious software issues. Understanding this difference is crucial for troubleshooting and effectively managing iPhone performance.