The ePub format is a standard e-book format supported by The International Digital Publishing Forum.
An e-book file with the .epub extension is a standard format used to store e-books and other types of content. EPUB is short for Electronic PUBlication.
It’s an open, royalty-free, and cross-platform file type that can be read on any device or computer with the appropriate software installed. It was developed to make it easier for publishers to create digital books in one place and then distribute them across multiple platforms.
Technical features
Technically, the ePub file may be divided into XHTML, packaging, and container files.
XHTML Documents: XHTML is a stricter version of HTML. Web browsers or eBook viewers can render the document more easily with strict syntax.
Packaging Files: There are two files: one with the .opf extension and the other with the .ncx extension.
Container files: Files for encryption and digital rights management (DRM) must be placed in a folder named “META-INF.” The container file for an eBook without DRM has only a few standard lines.
The first version of this specification was released in 2001 as XHTML with embedded fonts. In 2003, the IDPF published its second edition called “Open eBook.” The 3.0 specification was approved in 2011, and version 3.2 in 2019.
An ePub file can optionally contain DRM as an additional layer. DRM (Digital rights management) is technology to set access control for e-books.
Free Book: What is EPUB 3?
Rather than a book, this is a chapter-length article. Even though this article is short, it gives you an excellent overview of all the features and benefits that the standard will bring to your books if you haven’t used e-books or this standard before.
Synopsis: In this book, you will learn about the format that revolutionizes the publishing world. With features that the printed page cannot match – such as embedded multimedia, scripted interactivity – ePub 3 changes the world of books. The article offers a brief description of the format and shows how it fits into the digital landscape, explaining why it’s poised to become the new global standard for e-books.