Here's the breakdown:

* Stars are massive balls of hot gas that generate their own light and heat through nuclear fusion. They are the primary source of energy for their planetary systems.

* Planets are celestial bodies that orbit stars. They don't generate their own light and heat, and they are much smaller than stars.

* Suns are stars that are the center of a planetary system, like our Sun.

So, while stars are often called "suns" colloquially, they are actually the same thing.