What is the difference between a honing steel and a sharpening steel, and how do they each contribute to maintaining the sharpness of kitchen knives?

A honing steel is used to straighten and realign the edge of a knife, while a sharpening steel is used to actually remove metal and sharpen the blade. Honing steel helps maintain the knife's sharpness by keeping the edge aligned, while sharpening steel helps restore the sharpness by removing material to create a new edge. Both tools are important for maintaining the sharpness of kitchen knives.