What is an ePUB file?
An ePUB file is a digital book, or ebook, that can be read on a variety of electronic devices, including tablets, smartphones, and e-readers. An ePUB file is essentially a ZIP file containing a number of HTML files, images, and other assets.
The ePUB format was developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), and is now an official open standard. The format is designed to be reflowable, meaning that it can adapt to different screen sizes and font sizes. This makes ePUB files ideal for long-form reading, such as novels, textbooks, and other continuous content.
EPUB files can be created from scratch, or converted from other formats, such as PDF. To read an ePUB file, you need an e-reader app or program that supports the format. Some popular e-readers include Apple Books (for iOS devices), Google Play Books (for Android), and Adobe Digital Editions (for Windows and macOS).
Why use ePUB?
There are a few key advantages to using ePUB over other formats, such as PDF.
EPUB files are designed to be reflowable, so they can be easily read on a variety of devices with different screen sizes. This makes them ideal for long-form reading, such as novels, textbooks, and other continuous content.
EPUB files are also more accessible than PDFs. They can be read by a wider range of e-reader apps and programs, and support features such as text-to-speech and adjustable font sizes.
Finally, ePUB files are more lightweight than PDFs, so they take up less space on your device. This is especially important if you’re reading a lot of ebooks.
How to create an ePUB file?
If you’re starting from scratch, you can create an ePUB file using a text editor and a few simple HTML files. You can also use a dedicated ePUB creation tool, such as Sigil or Calibre.
If you already have a document in another format, such as PDF, you can convert it to ePUB using a file converter. For example, you can use the free online tool Zamzar to convert PDFs to ePUBs.
Once you have your ePUB file, you can open it on your computer using an e-reader app or program, such as Adobe Digital Editions. Or, you can transfer it to an e-reader device, such as a Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.