EPUB: Electronic Publication

Overview

EPUB (Electronic Publication) is the most widely adopted open standard for digital books and publications. Developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), EPUB files are essentially ZIP archives containing HTML, CSS, and images.

EPUB files are reflowable, meaning text automatically adjusts to different screen sizes and devices. This makes EPUB ideal for e-readers, tablets, and smartphones. Major platforms like Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Kobo use EPUB as their primary format.

History

Development History

• 2007: EPUB 2.0 released by IDPF
• 2011: EPUB 3.0 with HTML5, CSS3, multimedia
• 2014: EPUB 3.0.1 refinements
• 2017: W3C takes over EPUB standards
• 2021: EPUB 3.3 latest specification

Features and Capabilities

Key Features

• Reflowable text layout
• HTML5 and CSS3 support
• Embedded fonts
• Audio and video support
• Interactive elements (JavaScript)
• Accessibility features (screen reader support)
• Table of contents and navigation
• Metadata (author, publisher, ISBN)
• DRM support (optional)

Common Use Cases

Common Uses

• E-books: Fiction, non-fiction, textbooks
• Digital publishing: Magazines, journals
• Self-publishing: Independent authors
• Educational content: Course materials, guides
• Corporate documentation: Manuals, reports
• Comics and manga: Fixed-layout EPUB
• Library systems: Digital lending platforms

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

• Open standard format
• Reflowable across devices
• Wide device support
• Rich multimedia capability
• Smaller file sizes
• Accessibility friendly
• Easy to create (HTML/CSS)

Disadvantages

• Kindle requires conversion
• DRM implementations vary
• Complex formatting can be inconsistent
• Fixed-layout less flexible
• Limited interactive features on some devices
• Validation can be strict

Technical Information

EPUB files are ZIP archives containing XHTML content, CSS stylesheets, images, and navigation documents.

Technical Specifications