What is the difference between “read” and “view only” access in Sharepoint online?

In SharePoint Online, "Read" and "View Only" are two different permission levels that control what users can do within a site. Here's how they differ:

1. "Read" Access: Users with "Read" permissions can view pages, list items, and documents. They can also download documents. Essentially, they can see everything on the site but cannot make any changes.

2. "View Only" Access: Users with "View Only" permissions can view pages, list items, and documents, but they cannot download documents. They can only view the content online. This is a more restrictive permission level than "Read".

So, the main difference between the two is that "Read" allows users to download documents, while "View Only" does not.