Sync - exactly what does it do?
Why would I use a service or function if no one explains what FireFox Sync does?
Alla svar (6)
These articles do not address the question.
There are many methods of performing a sync. If you don't understand the process information will be destroyed.
For one thing, if I do a sync ... am I pushing out information from my computer or pulling it in? Possibly vverwritting something I already have. I did not know of a way to test this without destroying what I have spent hours to accumulate. I must be sure.
When a sync is performed, is it always manual or does it every do automatically, much like a backup?
Sync allows you see and share tabs on other devices. see screenshot
The process is automatic. So if you were to create another account on your computer, you can then log into the Firefox account and your data will load minus the tabs, but you can go back to the 1st account and send the tabs to the 2nd account.
The same process if you logged into your Firefox account on another device.
Sync works both ways. If you connect your computer to a Sync account then your data is uploaded to the Sync server, but also data from other devices stored on the Sync server is downloaded to your device. This means that once the initial sync has finished that your computer and data stored on the Sync server are the same.
Note that Sync isn't designed to be used as a backup, but is merely meant to Sync data between connected devices, so it is not of much use if you only have one device.