Sometimes it seems that deciding on a format is quite difficult, there are so many of them and each has its own advantages. Many authors ask the question: “How to choose a format for an e-book?” We conducted our analysis of formats and found out which is the best format for ordinary books. We carefully studied many formats, and considered them both from the point of view of the convenience of the reader and from the point of view of the convenience of the author. Let's dive into the details a little and see what influenced our choice.

Why is ePub the best format?

During the development of our services, we studied some technical nuances that affect the appearance and operation of an e-book.

Let's start with the simplest thing - managing the display of the book. Those. the ability for the reader to change the font size and page orientation. EPUB adapts perfectly to changes in device screen size or font size. I would like to note that the specification states that in fact the format supports 2 layout modes - the first (reflowable), when you can change these parameters, and the second (fixed-layout), when you can clearly indicate what is where.

Let's look at the layout modes in a little more detail.

Reflowable markup

It can be translated into Russian as fluid, adaptive or floating. Allows you to fit the contents of the book to the device screen, change the color and font size. Ideal for regular books with simple text - novels, poems, technical literature. Those. anything where clear image linking or complex visual representation is not required.

This markup is not suitable for visual interactive books and children's books with many illustrations, that is, those that require spatial reference of graphics, various combinations of pictures and sidebars. The EPUB format itself allows you to create interactive books, but the adaptive design of such books is a real art.

This is what responsive markup looks like

Using this markup is ideal when you don't know exactly where and how your book will be reproduced. Due to the flexibility of the layout, the book will be displayed correctly on almost any device, from a computer to some kind of smart watch. Plus, this marking is perfect for people with disabilities.

Fixed layout - fixed-layout

This type of markup implies that all elements have a clearly defined position on the page with a clearly indicated size. This markup is in a format that most closely resembles a physical medium, such as the page of a regular paper book. Everything is in its place and there is no adaptation. On devices, adaptation most often takes the form of scaling with all the ensuing consequences. What looks acceptable on a computer screen is already too small on a tablet, and cannot be seen at all on a smartphone screen. Well, the game of zooming in and out turns into torture for the reader.

Example of displaying fixed layout

This format is suitable when you know for sure that your work will be read on a medium with a specific size for which your work will be laid out. Initially, it is assumed that this markup is designed for further printing of the work, so it indicates the size and format of the future media. We Not We recommend using this markup for e-books, as it limits the reading area of ​​books to devices with a certain screen size.

The most common digital representative of this markup is the PDF format, but EPUB also supports it.

We decided to summarize popular formats in a table and show support for various markup inside them

We sorted out the layout. Now let's look at the most worrying moment for authors - copyright.

Support for copyright protection at the level of e-book formats

As a rule, authors insist on supporting DRM (Digital Rights Management) or technical means of copyright protection in e-books. This is one of the most unpleasant topics for both authors and readers, but it also affects the interests of publishers. And the main problem is that there is no reliable method of copy protection, because... The book is a source of predominantly textual information presented in graphic form. It is possible to create an extremely secure way to deliver content by encrypting the file to a special separate application or even a special separate book reader, but this will all be bypassed by a simple camera and subsequent OCR. So all the most complex and unpleasant procedures for everyone will be leveled out by the most primitive copying method, which is already more than two centuries old. Everything that the human eye sees, the camera will also see. And then it’s a matter of technology.

So, what is the situation with DRM support in various formats? We collected information and placed it in a table

The table shows that ePub, PDF and Mobipocket are formats that perfectly support copyright protection.

However, as we noted above, DRM no longer creates anything but inconvenience for the user. Many have been in a situation where they urgently need a book, but it is not in a format available for your device. As a rule, such a situation often takes a person by surprise or at the most inopportune moment. Usually people solve this in different ways, in most cases they simply look for another book on the same topic, but in an accessible format. As a result, the author loses readers and, of course, money.

The main problem of protecting the field of rights lies in the area of ​​educating people and their attitude towards copyright protection. For example, it never occurs to anyone to steal directly from a store, although everything is there, just stretch out your hand. The same goes for digital content. There is simply an awareness that the work belongs to the author and is the result of his work, which must be paid. The more people realize this, the fewer books will be stolen.

Providing legal access to books is one of the missions of our library.

Summarizing the above, we again come to the conclusion that ePub is an excellent choice from the point of view of copyright protection.

What's wrong with the EXE format?

Surely many have heard about this format. This format is called an application for the Windows operating system. That's right, this is not an e-book format, it is a regular program for Windows that needs to be installed and which only works on a very limited range of devices - computers and tablets with Windows. You won’t be able to open such a “book” on an iPad, Kindle, Nook, or Android tablet, not to mention other systems such as OS X or Linux. Moreover, because Since the format is an executable file, viruses very often attach to it, which makes it extremely unsafe. It’s that simple: I downloaded the book in exe and got a virus. Attackers often post viruses in the spirit of “All books by Dontsova.exe,” but instead of books, people receive a pack of viruses.

There is a similar format called JAVA that was popular on older smartphones for a while. The essence is the same - the program, but only for a smartphone. Similar virus camouflage for smartphones.

About the FictionBook format

Popular under the name FB2. It is popular mainly in Russia and the post-Soviet space, so we can safely call it a national format.

However, this format contains logical layout, the book is divided into sections, which can be poems or prose. However, the format itself is very limited, because Not only is there no support for complex layout and formulas, but also banal things like bulleted lists.

There is an idea for the FB3 format, an improved FB2, which, judging by the description, is a clone of the ePub format. It uses a similar zip archive and separates files into description, text and pictures. Dmitry Gribov is working intensively on a new format and we hope that it will delight authors with new opportunities.

This format is well suited for simple fiction written in Russian.

About the TXT format

About the MOBI format

The MOBI format has several varieties in the form of the AZW family of formats, characterized by a higher degree of data compression.

• AZW1 is another name for the "topaz" format (also called .tpz). This variety is designed for storing scanned documents and is similar to DJVU. TPZ format - used on the WhisperNet network. WhisperNet is a custom 3G cellular network created by Amazon to support Kindle books and sync books, bookmarks, etc.
• AZW3 is another name for KF8. This format first appeared on the Kindle Fire. It is a combined ePub format with a Palm database, Amazon DRM protection, practically copying all the features of the ePub format and ensuring compatibility with older Kindle readers.
• AZW4 is a special format for textbooks (similar to PDF).
• AZK is a special iOS version of the MOBI format for Kindle Reader and other Apple products.
• KFX is one of the relatively new formats from Amazon, which appeared simultaneously with the Kindle Paperwhite 3. It is the successor to AZK. Features such as playing sounds and videos, displaying tables on a separate screen, and adding a new font and JXR image format were added to it.
• AZW8 is an extension to KFX, which is another dedicated format currently on Kindle paperwhite 3, Kindle Oasis and Kindle Voyage. Currently this is the most advanced format and is used in modern devices from Amazon.

About the PDF format

About the DJVU format

DJVU is a Lizardtech format that is increasingly used for scientific publishing. The main purpose of this format is to store scanned images containing text and relatively simple graphics. Its main characteristics are that the compression ratio is approximately 10 times better than the .pdf format with the same quality. Nothing beats this nowadays for black and white text and images. Most likely you will find magazines such as Radio or Modelist-Konstruktor in it; their old versions are practically unavailable in other formats, because most of the old magazines are ordinary scanned images. In order for the search to work in it, a special invisible layer with text is added, obtained using text recognition systems (OCR). This format is completely unsuitable for e-books, since it cannot be adapted for devices with small screens, and many e-readers do not support it.

About the DOC, DOCX format

These are ordinary text documents created in the Word editor from Microsoft Office. They can be edited, fonts and design changed. This format is supported by a very narrow list of devices and programs due to the very high complexity and closedness of the format, plus very often it cannot be displayed correctly. The format is suitable as a draft for a book, but is not suitable for distribution.

About the EPUB format

The only e-book format officially recognized by the world community (International Digital Publishing Forum). Supports almost everything you can dream of: complex formatting, lists, tables, formulas, footnotes, raster and vector images, various layout modes and DRM copyright protection.

There are quite a few programs for creating e-books in the above formats, but we have developed a specialized solution specifically for authors.

Rare and outdated formats

We would also like to talk about some rare formats.

• ABW is the file format used by AbiWord. If the file is compressed, it will be in ZABW format.
• ACSM is a file format used to provide DRM protection in Adobe eBooks PDF and ePUB.
• AEH is the file format used by eBooksWriter.
• BBeB is Sony's own format. Stands for Broadband EBook, also known as LRF due to its file extension.
• CBR/CBZ - Compressed container for images. R means that the images are compressed using the RAR archiver, and Z means that they are compressed using ZIP. The internal format can be any of several image formats, and CBR/CBZ readers display them as multiple pages of a book. The name means comic book reader, but is used for any books where the content contains mainly photographs.
• CHM is compressed HTML often used for Windows Help files. It has become very popular for distributing texts and other support materials over the Internet.
• DNL is a digital web book format used by the Desktop author.
• DTB - Digital Talking Books - books for people who are blind, visually impaired, physically disabled, students with disabilities, or other print-disabled readers. DTBook sets the specifications for digital talking books (DTB) as part of DAISY.
• EBA is a proprietary e-book format. Chinese language eBook Readers are specifically supported.
• EBAML same as EBA 2.0 - Used on Dr. Yi Reader and other Chinese products.
• -ER.PDB - Palm database format for eReader. ER is used to differentiate this format.
• FUB is Franklin's e-book format.
• GPF - Ganaxa Publishing Format, allowing hot spots and embedded multimedia content.
• GPX is a Ganaxa secure document.
• IMP is an e-book format used by eBook Technologies ETI-1 (REB 1200 / Softbook Reader) or ETI-2 (EBookwise-1150 / Gemstar 1150). Some programs convert to it. It is considered a terminal format.
• -IS.PDB - Palm database format for the ISilo reader. IS is used to distinguish this format.
• KML - HieBook e-book format.
• LIT is Microsoft's own format for Microsoft Reader.
• LRC is a special accompanying format that should be a companion for audiobooks.
• LRF - also: BBeB book. Sony's own format. Supported by Sony Librie and Sony Reader.
• LRS - also: BBeB Xylog XML. Source code format for BBeB books, which is compiled into LRF for reading on the device.
• LRX is a BBeB protected document. Sony Librie and Sony Reader use formats that are incompatible with each other.
• MART is a proprietary format used only on the Martview website to distribute books consisting of images.
• NP format is a newspaper download format used by NewspaperDirect for their PressDisplay product.
• OEB - open book format. E-book format used by EBookwise-1150, MobiPocket and Microsoft Reader. This standard is an older version of ePUB.
• ODT is an open standard document format used in OpenOffice.org, Star Office and many other text editors.
• OSIS is an XML schema definition for the Bible and other biblical study texts.
• PKG is the format used in Apple Newton.
• PNPd - Format used by eReader. This is a popular format (also known as PML).
• PS - Postscript is supported in several readers, but is intended for sending information to a printer.
• RB - e-book format for Rocket eBook and Gemstar RCA REB 1100.
• RTF - Rich Text Format is a document interchange format supported by some e-book readers, as well as many Word processing applications, including MS Word and OpenOffice. This is the preferred format for many users who create their own content for Sony Reader.
• SGF is a native format for Sigil, a direct editor for ePUB. (No longer used)
• STK is STAReBOOK's own format.
• TCR - e-book for EPOC.
• TeBR is a custom tiny ebook format from Fictionwise.
• TR - Tome Raider format. Their latest format is called TR3. Tome Raider is an e-book format that supports very large books such as reference books, encyclopedias and dictionaries.
• VBK is a graphically-enabled e-book format from VitalSource. This format is commonly used in textbooks.
• XEB is a format used by Apbi e-books primarily in Chinese.
• XDXF is an XML-based dictionary exchange format.
• WOLF - Proprietary format used by HanLin eBook in its V2B, V3 and V8 e-books. The extension is usually .wol. Also used by JCNIP on their reader Dr.Yi.
• ZTXT is a format used by WeaselReader on Palm devices. Has the extension .pdb.
• ZNO is Zinio's proprietary subscription electronic journal format. These magazines include multimedia materials such as photographs and videos. There are rumors that the format is based on DJVU.

Perhaps we will end with exoticism at this point. Thank you for your attention!

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An e-book format is a file type that can be correctly recognized and reproduced by an e-book reader - a reader or reader. Today, online stores and online libraries offer about 10 types of files for reading. Uninitiated users often choose “at random,” which does not always allow them to download a book to their reader in the optimal format for reading, and perhaps the file will not even open. On the other hand, when buying a reader, readers do not always know how to choose a reader based on the type of e-book formats supported.

For authors Knowing which e-book formats are most popular is also important. Indeed, nowadays electronic reading devices are quickly replacing paper publications. Also, when releasing an electronic version of your paper book, you need to be sure that the e-book will be accepted by all the most popular online stores and that most readers will be able to read the book in the proposed format without errors.

Thus, it is important for the reader to know which e-reader to buy or what type of book is best to download to your e-reader. And it is important for the author to know in what format to publish his e-book. Our article will help both the author and the reader who is not yet experienced in this matter make a choice.

Which format should an author choose for his e-book?

1. The first thing to note is that there are only two e-book formats for which there are professional programs for creating them, as well as strict standards and independent systems for checking their quality: PDF and EPUB.
2. The PDF format is used to receive a print-on-demand service - when one copy is printed to the person who ordered the book.
3. All other popular book formats are in practice created by converting from EPUB.
4. Some publishers and freelancers offer to make any format very cheaply, by simply saving it from the Word editor, but you should understand that most online stores may reject this format and not all readers will allow comfortable reading. On some readers, a jumble of incomprehensible symbols may be displayed.

When choosing a format for his e-book, the author can proceed from the platform on which his work will be distributed:

• if you want to get into Litres and Ozone, you need PDF, EPUB and FB2 versions;
• to get into the iTunes store for Apple tablets and phones - iPhone and iPad - you need the EPUB type, this is the type that is supported by the iBooks reader on all Apple devices;
• EPUB is relevant for Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com stores - from it Amazon.com will automatically create MOBI and AZW for Kindle readers;
• For Google Play you can use PDF or EPUB.

If you want to create a scientific work for readers that contains formulas, tables, graphs, then the best format is only PDF. You can also make an EPUB, but the complexity of such work is quite high. In addition, as the page size increases, formulas and tables may take on a form that makes them difficult to understand.

Basic e-book formats

Modern bibliophiles, thanks to special devices for reading electronic books - readers or readers - have an excellent opportunity to carry with them thousands of works that can be read on the road, on vacation or during a lunch break.

We offer a brief overview of the main existing e-book formats.

FB2 (FictionBook)

The most common format in Russia.
Advantages:

• The content of the book on readers is structured (chapters, contents, cover, etc.).
• The user can sort files by author, genre, title and other tags contained in the source file.
• The file is lightweight and can be zipped.
• The file can be easily converted to other formats.
• Russian text has hyphens.

Flaws:

• Not intended for books with illustrations: images inserted into the text cannot be seen on many readers.
• This format was created by Russian developers and is not intended for use abroad, since it is not supported by Apple, Google, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

EPUB (Electronic PUBlication)

Perhaps the most commonly used electronic file type, supported by readers from all well-known manufacturers: Barnes & Noble, Sony, Pocketbook, Kindle, Onyx, Wexler, iBooks application for Apple devices, iPhone and iPad.
The layout structure of such a document is similar to an archived HTML page with texts, graphics, built-in fonts, etc.

MOBI

Initially it was supported only by Kindle readers, which were quite popular in Russia.

KF8 (Kindle Format 8)

The new format from Amazon is an improved version of MOBI.

PDF (Portable Document Format)

Peculiarities:

• files are heavy enough for inexpensive readers;
• in most cases the page corresponds to A4, while ordinary readers are A5 in size;
• it is possible to change only the scale (but not the font);
• Most likely, the page on the reader can only be read in fragments, unless it is an A6 page format version or you have a reader with a 9-inch screen.

DJVU

Designed as a storage for document scans. The functional features are completely similar to PDF.

LRF

LRF, the old format for Sony ereaders, converts very poorly to other file types.

AZW

Applies to Amazon.com for Kindle readers only. This format is used for copy protection.

TXT

Advantages:

• makes it possible to copy text of any format from another source;
• supported by almost all readers;
• the file weighs very little.

Meanwhile, this format does not provide for formatting and alignment elements, which makes it not the best option for a full-fledged virtual book.

RTF (Rich Text Format)

This is not the most convenient file type for reading due to the bulkiness of the file, and therefore the low speed of the reader’s work with it.

DOC (DOCX)

Word editor format. Few e-reading devices provide convenient reading of a full-fledged e-book in this format.

Which e-book format should the author and reader choose?

The traditional “book formats” supported by most readers are EPUB and FB2. It is important for the reader to pay attention to this when purchasing a reader. Of course, the more formats a reader can read, the better. Be sure to buy a backlit reader - you can read comfortably in rooms with insufficient lighting.

The author, when releasing his work, also needs to take into account precisely these EPUB and FB2 formats, in addition, of course, a PDF file is needed - without it it is impossible to correctly print a book for lovers of reading on paper.

Devices for reading electronic books (so-called readers ) have long ago turned from something very exotic into a household device as common as a smartphone. Users very quickly realized the beauty of readers: they can download hundreds (if not thousands) of books in electronic form, the eyes do not deteriorate when reading (electronic ink does not glow), you can customize any text parameters, including font typeface and its size, the book itself remembers the page you stopped on, and so on - the list of all sorts of conveniences compared to using paper books could take a very long time. However, users (especially beginners) have one problem: books are floating around the Internet in various formats, of which there are many: FB2, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, RTF, TXT, and so on. It’s also good when the site offers different formats to choose from - for example, on the website Litres.ru, where this choice is very wide.

Types of formats

However, for novice users, all these EPUB, FB2 and other DjVu are a dark forest, so let's figure out what they are, how they differ and in what devices they are used. So, the formats of electronic books (documents): 1. FB2 (FictionBook)- format (standard) developed by Dmitry Gribov and a group of enthusiasts. Excellent for creating structured books, it takes up a small amount of space, is easily archived, and can be easily converted into other formats. It is an XML file, structurally similar to an email letter. The main drawback is that since this is actually a Russian development, this format is completely unknown in the world and is almost not supported by any of the branded readers - Sony, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo. On Litres it is written that FB2 is “supported by all Russian readers,” but this is not entirely accurate. FB2 is supported by almost all Chinese readers with Ukrainian or Russian software. FB2 can also be supported by well-known Western readers (for example, Sony), which have special Russian firmware installed. (Well, recently official firmware supporting FB2 was released for the latest Sony PRS-T1 reader.) 2. EPUB (Electronic PUBlishing)- the most common e-book format in the world (and already very common in Russia). In structure, it is similar to a website packaged in an archive, and if FB2 can be distributed both in expanded form and in a ZIP archive (many readers can read FB2 in ZIP), then EPUB is, by definition, a book packaged by an archiver. EPUB is supported by almost any readers - both Western and Chinese (Russian-Ukrainian). Therefore, this is the most preferred format. (With rare exceptions.) 3. MOBI- a specialized format created specifically for the Amazon Kindle reader and, accordingly, supported only by this reader. Moreover, Kindle does not support any other e-book formats (except PDF and TXT, but this is a separate conversation). 4. TXT- normal text document format. It is supported by all readers, but reading books in TXT is for complete masochists. No markup, no normal hyphens, no format alignment, but there are line breaks and other delights. Into the furnace! 5. PDF(Adobe Portable Document Format) is one of the most common formats for electronic documents (usually not books). PDF is not particularly convenient to read on readers, in addition, it is very cumbersome, so in PDF for readers, as a rule, only documents with all sorts of formulas, illustrations, and other things are written. 6. LRF- a special format for e-books from Sony. However, it has already been practically replaced by the EPUB format, which Sony supports. 7. DjVu(pronounced déjà vu) is a format for storing tightly compressed scanned documents, such as old books. It is used very rarely in readers, because reading scanned books on a reader is almost impossible due to poor display quality and small screen size. 8. RTF (Rich Text Format)- a universal format for storing text documents. It is used very rarely in readers - for compatibility reasons. 9. DOC- Microsoft Office document format. Some readers support it, but few people usually need to read documents on a reader. That's somehow not what they were made for. True, some books still circulate on the Internet in DOC, but it’s easier to convert them into the same EPUB. There are all sorts of other formats, but you don’t have to bother yourself with this - they are unlikely to ever be useful. For most users, with a few exceptions, the EPUB format is usually sufficient. Almost all readers (except Kindle) support it; books in this format are small in size, have a good structure, allow you to include a table of contents, illustrations, and so on. Many online libraries store books in this format, and you can also find huge collections of books in EPUB format in torrents. What are the conclusions? EPUB is your choice, whether you have a Western reader (Sony, Barnes&Noble, Kobo) or a Chinese-Russian-Ukrainian one. But for the Kindle you will need to look for books in the MOBI format or, which is much simpler, simply convert the same EPUB or FB2 to this format. This procedure is carried out easily and quickly using a special program. We'll look at how this is done in a separate article.

We can say that e-books have become a part of our lives. Of course, because these devices have a huge number of advantages, thanks to which they are easy to use and are good assistants for reading enthusiasts. You can download hundreds of books in a small, compact device. When reading, your eyes do not get tired, since the electronic ink does not glow and the effect of a printed sheet is created. If you read a lot of books on the computer, then there are special ones so that they don’t get so tired.

In addition, some e-book models are equipped with additional functions. However, those who have just purchased or have had such a device for a long time know that you can download a book on the Internet in different formats, of which there are a huge variety. What are the differences between them, and which one is better to choose, we will try to figure it out. In addition, you can read books electronically on your computer; for this you just need to install.

FB2 – format for electronic books

There are gadgets that support various types of formats. But there are models for which it is advisable to choose a specific one. For example, if you are interested in what formats the Pocketbook e-reader supports, then FB2 is usually recommended for these devices. The full name sounds like FictionBook, it was invented by a group of Russian developers.

FB2 supports highlighting text in various fonts. This format is used to create structured documents. By the way, books created in FictionBook, if necessary, are perfectly reformatted, archived and have a small volume. Among the disadvantages of the format is that it is not widespread enough in Western countries. In this regard, it is not a fact that devices from some popular brands, for example, Sony, Amazon, etc. will support it. But if you are looking for an answer to the question: “What formats does the Texet, Onyx or Wexler e-reader support?”, then FB2 is for you will do.

EPUB

EPUB is a floating layout format. It is one of the most popular e-reader programs used all over the world. The structure of this file type is similar to an archived web page. It also contains fonts, text, illustrations and graphics.

Among the disadvantages of EPUB, we can only note that it is not so widespread in Russia. Therefore, many files have to be converted from other formats to this one. But many devices from popular European manufacturers are designed to work with EPUB. In addition, the iBooks reader installed on iPhone and iPad also supports this format. In addition to this program, you will find out what other differences there are between a smartphone and an iPhone.

TXT

Speaking about what formats are supported by the Wexler, Onyx e-reader or device from other manufacturers, TXT should be noted. Such files are supported by almost all devices and take up very little space. However, most users note that reading documents in this format is not very convenient.

Among the disadvantages of TXT is the lack of formatting. In addition, there is no alignment, transfers, or markings. This format is suitable for small notes. For a full-fledged book in electronic version, it is not the best option.

Which format to choose

Of course, we focused only on the most popular formats that are most common. In addition to them, DJVU, PDF, DOC, MOBI and others can be noted. They all have their pros and cons. Your choice of a specific format should be based on which format your e-reader supports best. If you downloaded a work in a certain format that does not suit you, you can convert it into another using special converter programs.

The best option is to read books in the format that is “native” for the device. Otherwise, you may experience slower operation of the reader or other inconveniences. If you like a certain format or you cannot find a work in another version, then you can easily install a program on the e-book that allows you to view it or convert the document.

Literature lovers often encounter a problem when a downloaded file cannot be opened because its encoding is not supported by the device. To avoid this, let's figure out which format of books for Android will be suitable and most convenient during the reading process.

What book formats exist for Android?

Let's look at what e-book formats each Android device supports. Here is a list of the most popular extensions:

• epub,
• tiff,
• djvu.

Each format actually has its own advantages and disadvantages, which we will touch on below.

This extension is based on XML technology and was developed by domestic programmers. The format is extremely popular in Russia and the CIS countries, but few people have actually heard about it in more distant countries. Readers choose FB2 due to the following advantages:

• This type of text document is easy to structure (add data about the author, table of contents, abstract and table of contents);

• Support for illustrations and images. Editions in FB2 format have a cover and pictures along the narrative (if any);

• This book will not take up much space. At the same time, the only format that can compete with FB2 in this indicator is txt;
• Easy navigation and quick movement through pages;
• There are preset design options.

Files with the FB2 extension are often distributed as ZIP archives. This way they take up less space on the device. Most readers open books directly from the archived source, which is also an advantage of Friction Book.

Epub

Friction Book's main competitor in the domestic market is EPUB. The functionality is slightly different from the format described above. There is also support for illustrations, text structuring, quick page navigation and other essential qualities of a good e-book. EPUB is rarely distributed in ZIP files because... the extension itself is an archive containing text with various markup. This significantly saves space in online storage and user devices.

Which of these two formats to download e-books for your Android device is entirely your choice. FB2 and EPUB are supported by any reader, and you are unlikely to see any differences between them during the reading process.

MOBI

The format was developed by the French company Mobipocket for Amazon. MOBI is used in all applications and software from Amazon, so its scope of use is very limited. However, the format is not inferior to EPUВ and FВ2 in functionality, therefore it is often offered as the only one available when downloading a book. Supported by almost all applications.

RTF, TXT, DJVU and other extensions

Such extensions are usually used for highly specialized literature or in cases where using other types of files is simply impossible. For example, DJVU is scanned or photographed pages of a book, converted into accessible form using this encoding. Before downloading files with such extensions, make sure that your program can handle them. Due to their specificity, books of this type are not always supported by “readers” on phones.

Book reading apps

After you have figured out in what format you need to download e-books and text files on Android, it’s time to choose a utility to launch. Here is a list of the most popular reading programs:

• CoolReader. It boasts the widest range of supported extensions (FB2, EPUB, txt, doc, rtf, html, chm, tcr, рdb, рrc, mobi, рml). The program is easy to use and extremely convenient for reading any text documents;

• FBReader. Differs from CoolReader in design style and “lightweight” interface;