Ebooks – glossary of terms
This glossary contains most popular terms used to describe ebooks. It’s meant to be simple and clear, so that all readers, not only tech-savvy ones, could find it helpful.
If you want us to add, change or update anything, please use this form to send a hint.
Adobe Digital Editions free application for PC and Mac computers in which you can read and manage epub and pdf ebooks, either unprotected or with Adobe DRM
Adobe DRM (Adept) most common DRM system for epub and pdf files. Used, among others, by Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Sony ebookstores
Android developed by Google, operating system of many mobile devices, smartphones and tablets, including Kindle Fire, Nook Color and Kobo Vox
backlight (backlit) screen a type of the display which produces a visible image thanks to a source of light placed behind it. Used in computers, televisions, and tablets
Calibre popular application for file conversion (epub«»mobi ) and management of ebook collections
cloud technology which lets store user’s ebooks on a server of a provider. Thanks to that the user can access them from any device and have them instantly synced
DRM (Digital Rights Management) system designed to protect ebook files from opening by unauthorized users or on unauthorized devices. You can’t read Kindle ebook on Nook and Nook ebook on Kindle, because they have different DRMs
ebook (e-book, eBook) electronic book; a book-length publication in digital form. It is a digital file, which may consist not only of text and pictures, but also video and audio elements. Still confused by many users with ereader
eink (e-ink, eInk) electrophoretic ink; a special type of epaper, developed and manufactured by E-Ink Corporation
enhanced ebook electronic book with added audio, video and other elements, which let users interact with content. Usually enhanced ebooks are sold as standalone book applications
epaper (e-paper, ePaper) electronic paper; a range of displays which are designed to resemble the look of ink on a paper. Epaper screen doesn’t emit its own light, it doesn’t cause eye strain and you can read books in daylight
epub (ePub, EPUB) most popular type of a file format in which ebooks are prepared. Text in epub file can be optimized for a specific device. You can change font size and typeface. The file extension is .epub
ereader (e-reader, eReader) electronic reader; electronic device designed specifically to read ebooks. The most popular ereader is Kindle
frontlight (frontlit) screen to illuminate this screen, the source of light is placed around it. Thanks to that reading on an eink ereader can be possible even in poor light conditions
iBooks application for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch for reading and buying ebooks from iBooks Store
iBooks Author a free application to produce ebooks enhanced with multimedia elements (audio, video)
iBooks Store ebookstore run by Apple. It can be accessed either from iBooks or iTunes
iOS operating system of mobile devices from Apple: iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch
iPad the most popular tablet in the world, produced by Apple. There are many available ereading applications for iPad, including iBooks, Kindle, Nook and Kobo
iTunes application for Mac and PC computers which gives access to music, books, podcasts and videos offered by Apple
kf8 (kindle format 8) a new ebook file format from Amazon, replacing mobi. It allows to develop much more complex and interactive ebooks
Kindle brand of devices from Amazon. Kindle ereaders were launched in 2007 and quickly became a synonym of an ereader. Since November 2011 also Kindle tablets are sold
mobi (mobipocket) type of a digital file format, which can be read on Kindle ereaders. The file extension is .mobi
Nook the brand of ereaders, tablets and applications from Barnes & Noble
pbook print book; a book-length publication in print format. Used mainly when print and digital books are compared to each other
pdf ebook file format with a fixed layout, text and graphics. A newer version is pdf reflowable, where text can be optimized for a specific device. This is especially helpful for small-screen devices like smartphones
self-publishing publication of a book by its author. This form of publishing became extremely popular with the growth of ebooks and social media
tablet multi-purpose mobile device with a color LCD screen, operated by a touchscreen
text-to-speech (TTS) a technology which converts written text into speech, using a voice synthesizer
touchscreen type of an electronic display, which lets operate a device by touching a screen with fingers
unprotected file ebook file which doesn’t have DRM. For example, an unprotected epub file can be read on any device or application which reads epub format