How does the sun differ from other stars? How is the sun similar to other stars?

It is similar to other stars in the nuclear fusion process, with the possible exception of mass.

The sun is a typical normal-sized star in the universe. These stars are called Main Sequence Stars, and they have a lifespan of approximately 10 billion years. A star's life expectancy is determined by how quickly it burns its fuel, which in this case is hydrogen, and turns it into helium. At present, the sun is approximately 4.5 billion years old. In 4.5 billion years, it will burn hydrogen, and then in 100 million years, it will become a RedGiant star, which will burn its helium to carbon before collapsing on its core and turning into a white dwarf.

Other massive stars, such as the Super and Hyper Giants, have a much shorter fuel lifespan of only 100 million years.

Then there is the Red Dwarf star type, which burns its fuel much more slowly than even our Sun and has a life span of a trillion years. Because the universe isn't old enough, no Red Dwarf has ever been observed to go supernova.

The Sun differs from other stars in its specific characteristics, such as its size, composition, and age. However, it is similar to other stars in that it is a self-luminous celestial body fueled by nuclear fusion, primarily converting hydrogen into helium in its core to generate energy and emit light and heat. Additionally, like other stars, the Sun is part of a larger stellar system and plays a vital role in the formation and evolution of galaxies.