Anki syncing help

sam2004x

I've recently started using anki for university and have it on my ipad and laptop. I rarely use it on my laptop so im not too bothered about syncing it and only do it about once a week. Recently im wondering if syncing is required to save cards if im making them offline? or do cards always save to the device you made it on regardless of if you sync it, or if its done online or not? Just worried as its going to be difficult to re-make cards i havent synced/saved as i cant remember which lectures i studied online/offline