There's one big difference: "When you make a ranged attack roll with a weapon, a spell, or some other means, you have Disadvantage on the roll if you are within 5 feet of an enemy who can see you and doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition"
So ranged attacks made while an enemy is too close have disadvantage.
There could then be many other effects which modify or trigger when you make a melee attack or a ranged attack, but each of those effects would call out one or the other in their rules.
I've seen the calculations for both attack and they are the same. What exactly is the difference between a melee and ranged attack?
There's one big difference: "When you make a ranged attack roll with a weapon, a spell, or some other means, you have Disadvantage on the roll if you are within 5 feet of an enemy who can see you and doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition"
So ranged attacks made while an enemy is too close have disadvantage.
There could then be many other effects which modify or trigger when you make a melee attack or a ranged attack, but each of those effects would call out one or the other in their rules.
that makes sense, thanks!