Address, key, recovery phrase.
Related ideas, with very different roles.
The short version
An address identifies where assets are received. A private key is secret information used to authorize transactions. Many wallets use a recovery phrase to restore access to their keys.
A closer look
Think of an address as an account number you can share so that people can send you assets. It is safe to give out: it lets others pay you, not take from you.
A private key is the secret that authorizes transactions from that address. A recovery phrase, usually 12 or 24 words, is a human-friendly way to back up the keys: one phrase can restore the addresses of a whole wallet.
Never type your recovery phrase or private key into a website, send it in a message or keep it in a photo. A genuine wallet only needs it when you set the wallet up on a new device or restore it.
Worth remembering
A receiving address can be shared. A private key or recovery phrase should stay private.
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