Keychain
Apple's encrypted credential store on macOS and iOS — where Safari passwords, app secrets, and certificates live.
Definition
Keychain is the macOS and iOS secret store, encrypted with the user's login password and backed by Secure Enclave hardware on supported devices. CLI tools reach it via the security command; apps via the Security framework. Most macOS developer tools store API tokens in Keychain rather than dotfiles, and many CLIs cache OAuth refresh tokens there.
When to use
See also
- SSO — Single sign-on — log in once with your identity provider and access many apps without re-authenticating.