Steam Key vs Steam gift?

[leelaa14]

Hi guys, i've been using g2a to get my games, and while i'm not worried about using them thanks to the shield service they provide, i'm curious as to what the difference is between a steam key and steam gift.
Obviously one is a key containing numbers and letters etc and the other isn't but do these 2 effect the games i buy in any way?
I bought left 4 dead 2 as a key and don't starve which was sent as a gift and not had any problems with the two, but i'm just curious if it really makes a difference weather it's key or gift, thanks

[AlwaysFSX]

A Key does not need to be used instantly, anyone can use it. A gift is sent directly to your account and automatically added to your library.

[ShadowCaptain]

Makes no difference to you but a key is just the code to a game, the gift is sent to your steam account which you can either redeem or send on

[leelaa14]

Thanks guys, have a good day

[AlwaysFSX]

Makes no difference to you but a key is just the code to a game, the gift is sent to your steam account which you can either redeem or send on

That new to me, I never knew you could send a gift to someone else

[ShadowCaptain]

That new to me, I never knew you could send a gift to someone else

 

Yeah! You can gift them to friends (I assume the G2A ones are like this)

 

Thats why with the old humble bundle I would get gift keys, then I could send the games I already owned to friends

[Interfectorem]

A Steam Gift is an item in your Steam inventory that is tradable between users.  And a key, well, it's a key. But in the end, you're still getting the game.

[smjpl]

 

 

In something like the summer sales, I always buy games as gifts. Basically this gives me the choice to either keep it or give it away to somebody later. If I get a key instead of a gift, like others have said, it will go straight into my  library and I cannot give it away then.