What is the difference between iCloud Drive and CloudKit?

backup, cloudkit, icloud-drive, ios

Solution

CloudKit

CloudKit provides authentication, a private and a public database, and structured asset storage services. CloudKit is a framework that allows an app to connect to iCloud APIs.

iCloud Drive

iCloud Drive is Apple's online storage service — a place to keep user files and access them from Apple devices, such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

In summary, `iCloud Drive` is where apps can store user’s data and files for access from other devices. `CloudKit` is the framework that makes it possible to access `iCloud`/`iCloud Drive`.

↳ https://developer.apple.com/icloud/

Problem

What is the difference between iCloud Drive and CloudKit? Which would be better for storing manual, periodic app document backups? I did see this question: iCloud versus iCloud Drive versus CloudKit but it is about costs and not the differences between the actual services.

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