A seed phrase and a private key are both ways to access a cryptocurrency wallet.
A seed phrase, also known as a mnemonic phrase, is a sequence of words that serve as a backup of the wallet. It is used to generate the private key, which is then used to access the wallet. Seed phrases are typically 12 or 24 words long and are meant to be written down and stored in a secure place, as they are the only way to recover the wallet if the user loses access to it.
A private key, on the other hand, is a long string of characters that acts as a password for the wallet. It allows the user to access their funds, send transactions, and manage their wallet. Private keys should be kept confidential and secure, as anyone with access to the private key has control over the funds in the wallet.