A soft reset is a type of reset that is used to restart a device or system without losing any data. It is also known as a "soft reboot" or "soft power cycle." Soft resets are usually conducted in an attempt to fix malfunctioning applications or because theyre required for software installation. A soft reset is performed by restarting a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or personal computer (PC), which closes applications and clears any data in random access memory. Soft resets can be used to resolve problems with network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls, and in embedded systems, where the device is usually running on a real-time operating system and a soft reset is used to refresh the device without losing any data or configuration.

In contrast, a hard reset removes all user data, settings, and applications and returns a device to the same state it was in when it shipped from the factory. A hard reset is also known as a factory reset, master reset, or full reset. Since a factory reset entails deleting all information stored in the device, it is essentially the same concept as reformatting a hard drive. Hard resets are typically used when the device has a technical problem that cannot be fixed using other methods, or when the owner wants to remove all their personal data before selling, giving away, returning, or disposing of the device.

To summarize, a soft reset is a type of reset that restarts a device without losing any data, while a hard reset removes all user data, settings, and applications and returns a device to its original state.