Difference between Author and Publish Run modes

Hi ansar shaik

Run modes allow you to tune your AEM instance for a specific purpose; for example author or publish, test, development, intranet or others.

You can:

Define collections of configuration parameters for each run mode.
A basic set of configuration parameters is applied for all run modes, you can then tune additional sets to the purpose of your specific environment. These are applied as required.

Define additional bundles to be installed for a particular mode.

All settings and definitions are stored in the one repository and activated by setting the Run Mode.

Link:- https://docs.adobe.com/docs/en/cq/5-6-1/deploying/configure_runmodes.html

Apart from what Praveen has mentioned there are few more article to be used as a reference. 

Please find below the link for the same :

Link:- http://www.wemblog.com/2012/01/how-to-set-up-run-mode-in-cq-wem.html

Link:- http://wemcode.wemblog.com/check-run-mode

I hope this would help you.

Thanks and Regards

Kautuk Sahni

Hi,

Run modes allow configuring CQ and AEM instances for specific purposes. For example, author instances use the author runmode, publish instances use the publish runmode. 

Once set, run modes are used to tune each instance. This is done by defining collections of configuration parameters for each run mode or combination of run modes. Default sets of configurations are applied to all run modes. 

Standard run modes include:

•  author
•  publish

Please take a look @ documentations for run modes:

• https://docs.adobe.com/docs/en/cq/5-6-1/deploying/configure_runmodes.html
• https://helpx.adobe.com/experience-manager/kb/RunModeSetUp.html
• http://www.aemmastery.com/2014/11/29/dive-aem-runmodes/