No, add-on search engines aren't saved in bookmarks, they're in the \searchplugins\ folder in the Profile folder. Sync isn't capable of syncing search engines currently. You can just copy that folder from one Profile folder to another Profile folder - it is not a default folder, it only appears in the Profile folder when one search engine is saved beyond the 5 that come with Firefox.

Thanks for the reply.

That's so funny... check this out: "Since Firefox actually integrates these into your bookmarks, they sync right along with your bookmarks"

"Since Firefox actually integrates these into your bookmarks, they sync right along with your bookmarks"

Sorry, a difference in terminology used is causing a misunderstanding here.

The author of that article is comparing Firefox and Chrome in that article, and in the process of making that comparison he is causing confusion between the Keyword Search feature in the Location Bar (which is all Chrome has, there is no separate Search Bar) with the Search Engines in the Search Bar.
http://lifehacker.com/196779/hack-attack-firefox-and-the-art-of-keyword-bookmarking = the first paragraph
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_keyword_searches

Since the Keyword is a field in a Bookmark, yes, the Keyword Search "engines" will sync with Bookmarks.

I don't understand how this differs from going into Manage Search Engines and doing the same thing to add a keyword to a search string? "Manage Search Engines" is a Mozilla feature so I don't see how he's causing confusion. He's just saying that those are sync-able which he is wrong about, I get that. But I have ebay setup through Search Engines the exact same way your link talks about setting up a bookmark. I use an add-on called "Add To Search Bar" "Add To Search Bar"

What is the difference in these processes and why are there two?

He's talking about searches from the address bar (Location Bar in Mozilla lingo) and you are talking about using the Search Bar. That extension adds a webpage search function to the Firefox Search Bar, as shown in this screencast gif - https://firefox.maltekraus.de/public/images/screencast8.gif

BTW, a "Keyword" added to a Search Engine in Manage Search Engines works pretty much as the Bookmark Keyword does with a bookmarked search web page, except that the Bookmark Keyword will be sync'd, whereas Search Engines aren't.

The difference is that "search engines" are in the Search Bar, and the Keyword Search feature that can be enabled in a bookmark is done in the Location Bar. As to why there are two, some users hide the Search Bar to save toolbar space and do all their searches from the Location Bar.

Ok, that makes more sense. I will definitely remake them then as Bookmarks so I can use them on my Firefox synced devices.

Thanks for explaining. But the fact that you can do the same thing in both is actually really confusing. Maybe that needs to be cleaned up?

I wasn't confused until I read the Gizmodo article you posted and started trying to figure out what he was talking about and come up with an explanation for you - LOL.

BTW, there's actually a 3rd way of doing searches in Firefox - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Location_Bar_Search - which is what a lot of people use, but it is disabled in Firefox 4 and later. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keyword.URL

I have been using Firefox for almost 9 years now, and I have never used the Manage Search Engine List keyword feature, and have rarely used the Bookmarks Keyword feature for search engines on web pages. I do use the Bookmarks Keyword feature for a few bookmarks for websites that I frequently visit; bookmarks that most users would keep in their Bookmarks Toolbar for quick access. I haven't used or displayed the Bookmarks Toolbar in like 8 years now, it takes up too much room. Plus, back in the pre-Firefox 1.0 days there was an "overflow" Bug that showed itself when leaving the Maximized view for less than a full monitor size window - it was easier then to just not use the Bookmarks Toolbar.

Oh, man... a third way? I gotta look into this.

I use them because when I'm looking for a CD I want, rather than go to each site and navigate through their sometimes ineffective layout I can just type the search into my search bar: az for amazon bor for borders bn for barnes and noble etc...

That "3rd way" won't have any advantage with that type of search.

As far as I know only Opera offers Search Engine syncing, I too would like to have this in Firefox and Chrome.

I assumed Firefox had this feature at least since FF4 and Sync becoming a default feature...unfortunately no.

I recently discovered Shortmarks - A free service which enables you to setup bookmarks, search engines, and keywords on web page which is then available on any browser on any computer connected to the internet. The service is still on beta though and there may be some privacy concerns, but the developer has stated that he does not log searches.

So use it or not it is up to you but it is an alternative.