EPUB is an e-book file format that uses the ".epub" file extension. It is short for electronic publication and is sometimes styled as ePub. EPUB is supported by many e-readers, and compatible software is available for most smartphones, tablets, and computers. It is a technical standard published by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) and became an official standard of the IDPF in September 2007, superseding the older Open eBook (OEB) standard. The EPUB format is implemented as an archive file consisting of XHTML files carrying the content, along with images and other supporting files.
Some key features of EPUB format are:
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Compatibility: EPUB is the most widely supported vendor-independent XML-based e-book format, supported by almost all hardware readers.
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Open standard: EPUB is an open standard for e-books created by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF).
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Functionality: EPUB files package and encode enhanced web content for distribution within a single file. Each EPUB file contains the structural data, HTML files, CSS style sheets, images, and any other assets that are required to display the content.
EPUB files can be read with a variety of different devices including compatible ebook readers, tablet computers, and smartphones. Some of the useful functions of EPUB files include the ability to adjust font size, line spacing, and background color. EPUB is free of digital rights management (DRM) restrictions and can be used with any software or hardware able to read EPUB 2.0 files.
EPUB files can be created using various software such as Scrivener, Adobe InDesign, and QuarkXpress. They can also be converted from other formats using an application or online service. However, it is recommended to validate the final EPUB file using the free, open-source tool EpubCheck validator.
