Sync

Sync, short for synchronization, is the process of coordinating events or data to operate in unison. The term is used across technology and science to describe aligning clocks, information, or activities between devices, systems, or components. Effective synchronization reduces latency, inconsistencies, and timing errors in distributed environments.

In computing, synchronization ensures data consistency across storage, applications, and networks. Data synchronization can be one-way or bidirectional and may occur automatically in cloud services, mobile apps, or database replication. Common techniques include polling, event-driven updates, delta transfers, and conflict resolution.

Time synchronization aligns clocks across devices and networks. Accurate timekeeping is vital for logging, security protocols, and distributed systems. Protocols such as NTP (Network Time Protocol) and PTP (Precision Time Protocol) provide varying precision, from milliseconds to microseconds, depending on network conditions.

Media synchronization coordinates audio, video, subtitles, and captions in playback and streaming. Lip-sync ensures speech matches on-screen movement, while synchronization is also critical for conferencing and live broadcasts.

Process synchronization in computing manages access to shared resources in multiprocess or multithreaded environments. Techniques include locks, semaphores, monitors, barriers, and atomic operations to prevent race conditions and ensure correct sequencing of operations.

Beyond computing, synchronization appears in biology and neuroscience, where neural firing patterns or circadian rhythms can exhibit synchrony, and in navigation or manufacturing where timing alignment is essential. In common usage, Sync is often used as a shorthand in software features that keep data or settings aligned across devices.