A hardcover book, also known as a hardback book or simply a hardcover, has sturdier covers, typically constructed of cardboard covered with cloth or paper. Sometimes, a dust jacket is present on the book to protect it. The term “hardcover” refers to the binding and does not necessarily indicate the quality of the contents. Some paperback books are bound with heavier materials and may feature flaps.
Hardcovers are generally more expensive than paperbacks for several reasons:
– Manufacturing costs: Creating hardcovers involves more materials and processes than producing paperbacks. Cardboard is often used as reinforcement between the front and back covers.
– Durability: Paperbacks are temporary by design; they cost less because they don’t need to last very long. Hardcovers offer superior protection against wear and tear, so they’re better suited for multiple reads or loans.
– Perception: Many readers perceive hardcovers as more prestigious or “better” than paperbacks, allowing publishers to charge more.
Remember that these points aren’t universally valid; some textbooks have soft covers because students might want them lighter or cheaper (or both). Conversely, high-quality editions of literary classics can be pricey, even in paperback form.
Some people mistakenly think all books printed before mass-market paperbacks were issued exclusively in hardcover format—that notion isn’t accurate either.
If applicable, the abbreviations Hbk (hardback) usually appear after an ISBN on bibliographic records. However, they aren’t part of data-entry conventions like fixed field codes.