Okuzeka
Software Engineering vocabulary · APIs, Networking and Security

Keychain

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/ˈkiːˌtʃeɪn/nounCommon term

In software engineering, keychain means: Apple's encrypted storage for small secrets such as passwords, tokens and keys, protected by the system and kept separate from normal app data.

In Turkish: anahtar zinciri, keychain

How it is used

iOS developers save access tokens to the keychain rather than UserDefaults. Keychain items can survive app deletion and can be shared between apps from the same developer team. The closest Android counterpart is the Android Keystore system, which protects cryptographic keys.

Example sentences

  1. Store the refresh token in the keychain, not in UserDefaults.

  2. Users stay logged in after reinstalling because the token is still in the keychain.

Common collocations

  • save to the keychain
  • keychain item
  • keychain access
  • Android Keystore
  • local storageSpace on the device itself where an app saves data, such as settings, files or a database, so it is available without contacting a server.
  • biometric authenticationConfirming a user's identity with a physical feature, such as a fingerprint or a face scan, instead of or in addition to a password or PIN.
  • device tokenA unique string that identifies one installation of an app on one device; the server needs it to send push notifications to that device.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: APIs, Networking and Security

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: