The past simple refers to a specific event that happened in the past and is finished. E.g. I went to France 5 years ago. The present perfect refers to something that happened in the past and is connected to now. E.g. I have been to France (at some point in the whole of my life, up to and including now, I went to France). You could not say "I have been to France 5 years ago", because that is a specific time that has no connection to today. I didn't go to France 5 years ago (I didn't go 5 years ago, but maybe I went at another time) I haven't been to France (I never went to France)

Examples: I jumped (simple past), I have jumped (present perfect) Difference: Simple past is an action that was completed. Perfect past expresses an action that can be ongoing - continuing action.