What's the difference between calling Firebase's updateProfile method versus updating Firebase's real-time database to render a profile photo?

Question

As a background, I am using Firebase Authentication to create users using Firebase's createUserWithEmailAndPassword method. During sign-up, I use Firebase's updateProfile method to provide it a photoURL and also store the photoURL as user information in Firebase's real-time database using their UID. When I am rendering these user profiles, I am rendering the user data from Firebase's real-time database.

After the creation of the user, I want to allow the user to update their profile photos. Now, here's where I'm confused.

When updating the user's profile photos, what is the difference between merely updating the photoURL in the user profile in Firebase's real-time database? Versus calling Firebase's updateProfile method? I don't quite understand what the updateProfile method is doing in respect to the real-time database.

I am rather new to the world of React and Firebase so forgive me if I am unclear, I will try and best clarify what I mean.

Answer 1

updateProfile is doing nothing with respect to Realtime Database. Updating the profile just modifies the user account in Firebase Authentication. If you also want to record a profile URL in Realtime Database, that will be a separate operation. The URL is not automatically linked between the two products in any way.