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{group_ebook}
Electronic Publication - universal open-standard e-book format based on HTML, CSS, and XML. Reflowable text adapts to any screen size. Supports fonts, images, metadata, and table of contents. Industry standard compatible with most e-readers (Kobo, Nook, Apple Books, Google Play Books). Kindle requires conversion. Perfect for digital publishing, self-publishing, and distributing long-form content. EPUB 3 adds multimedia and interactivity. Essential format for authors and publishers.
Mobipocket - legacy e-book format originally for Mobipocket Reader, later acquired by Amazon for Kindle. Based on Open eBook standard with Amazon DRM. Being phased out by Amazon in favor of AZW3/KF8. Limited formatting capabilities compared to modern formats. Still supported by older Kindle devices (pre-2011). Convert to AZW3 for modern Kindles or EPUB for other readers. Historical format important for accessing older Kindle content.
Amazon Kindle Format 8 (KF8) - Amazon's modern e-book format replacing MOBI with advanced features. Supports HTML5, CSS3, embedded fonts, and enhanced typography. Better formatting than MOBI with smaller file sizes. Native format for Kindle devices and apps (2011+). Includes Amazon's DRM protection for purchased books. Perfect for Kindle publishing and distribution. Superior to MOBI for new Kindle content. Industry standard for Amazon's ecosystem.
FictionBook - XML-based e-book format emphasizing structured content over appearance. Separates content from presentation enabling flexible rendering. Popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. Supports semantic markup, footnotes, and citations. Small file sizes with rich metadata. Perfect for fiction literature, novels, and text-focused content. Open format with no DRM restrictions. Used extensively in Russian-language e-book libraries and collections.
Sony Portable Reader Format - proprietary e-book format for Sony Reader devices (2006-2014). Supports reflowable text, images, and basic formatting. Compressed format with DRM capabilities. Obsolete since Sony discontinued Reader line. Limited software support for reading or creating. Convert to EPUB for modern e-readers. Historical format important only for accessing old Sony Reader content. Not recommended for new content.
Palm Database - container format for Palm OS e-books supporting various formats (Palm Doc, eReader, Plucker). Used on Palm PDAs and early smartphones. Multiple compression methods available. Legacy format from Palm's dominance era (1990s-2000s). Limited modern reader support. Convert to EPUB or MOBI for contemporary devices. Important for accessing vintage Palm e-book collections. Primarily historical significance in e-book evolution.
RocketBook - proprietary format for Rocket eBook reader, one of the first dedicated e-readers (1998-2000). Pioneering format in e-book history but now completely obsolete. No modern software support. Extremely difficult to read on current devices. Convert to EPUB for accessibility. Historical importance as early e-book format. Relevant only for digital archiving and e-book format history. Not suitable for any modern use.
Shanda Bambook - proprietary format for Shanda Bambook e-readers popular in China. Compressed format supporting text, images, and Chinese typography. Limited to Bambook devices and related software. Minimal international usage. Convert to EPUB for broader compatibility. Regional format primarily used in Chinese market. Important for Chinese e-book collections but limited global relevance. Consider EPUB for international distribution.
Text Compression for Reader - compressed text format for Psion devices and PalmOS. Simple text-only format with compression but no formatting. Tiny file sizes perfect for limited device storage. Legacy format from PDA era. Very limited modern support. Convert to EPUB or PDF for current devices. Historical format representing early mobile reading. Only relevant for accessing vintage PDA content. Use modern formats for new content.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an FB2 file and why was this ebook format created?
FB2 (FictionBook 2.0) is an XML-based eBook format popular in Russia, Eastern Europe, and online literary communities. It was created to solve a major problem in early eBook ecosystems: inconsistent formatting caused by converting between many proprietary formats. FB2 enforces a strict, clean, semantic structure where the focus is on the meaning of elements—chapters, epigraphs, citations, notes—rather than layout. This ensures that the book displays consistently across all readers regardless of device or resolution.
Because FB2 files rely on semantic markup instead of complex styling, they are lightweight, easy to parse, and highly portable. This made FB2 a favorite for fanfiction archives, classic literature collections, and massive online libraries in countries where open, DRM-free book distribution became culturally important.
How does the FB2 format work internally?
FB2 is built entirely around semantic XML and includes:
Semantic Document Structure
Every FB2 file clearly divides text into title, body, sections, subsections, quotes, and annotations using strict XML tags, ensuring predictable rendering.
Embedded Images as Base64
Images are encoded directly in the file using Base64, eliminating external references and guaranteeing self-contained portability.
Simple, Offline-Friendly Architecture
All content is stored internally without links to external fonts or CSS, making FB2 highly reliable in offline reading environments.
Metadata-Focused Header
The FB2
This XML-centric approach makes FB2 transparent, durable, and extremely easy to convert into more visual formats like EPUB.
Where is the FB2 format commonly used today?
Although less global than EPUB, FB2 remains widely used in several ecosystems:
Online Book Libraries
Large Russian and Eastern European digital libraries host millions of FB2 books due to the format’s simplicity and reliability.
Fanfiction Communities
Writers prefer FB2 because its clean semantic structure makes sharing and versioning easy.
Self-Publishing
Independent authors distribute FB2 to reach older eReaders and specialized apps.
Archival Collections
FB2’s clean XML markup makes it excellent for long-term text archiving.
Community Translation Projects
FB2’s simple structure is ideal for collaborative translation workflows.
Conversion Pipelines
Tools like Calibre use FB2 as a reliable intermediary format due to its clean markup.
Mobile Reading Apps
Popular Android reading apps such as FBReader and CoolReader still treat FB2 as a primary format.
Despite EPUB being the global standard, FB2 remains dominant in specific regions and digital communities.
Why do some FB2 files display inconsistently on different devices?
Some readers interpret XML tags differently, especially for nested sections or notes.
Base64-encoded images may exceed memory limits on older devices, causing failures.
If the FB2 uses non-standard extensions or poorly structured XML, some apps may ignore formatting.
How does FB2 compare to EPUB?
FB2 emphasizes semantic text structure, while EPUB emphasizes visual presentation with HTML and CSS.
EPUB supports complex layouts, multimedia, and modern typography; FB2 intentionally avoids these to remain simple and stable.
FB2 is easier to parse and convert, while EPUB is far more powerful for advanced publishing.
Does FB2 support images, fonts, or multimedia?
Images are supported but stored as Base64 blocks inside the XML, which increases file size.
FB2 does not support embedded fonts, styling, animations, or multimedia of any kind.
Visual-heavy books like comics or textbooks should not be distributed in FB2, as the layout system is too limited.
Why do some programs refuse to open or convert FB2 files?
Malformed XML is a common issue—any structural error prevents proper parsing.
Some FB2 files include non-standard tags or custom extensions that break compatibility.
Base64-encoded images may inflate the file to sizes that older software cannot handle.
Why do FB2 files sometimes lose formatting when converted?
XML semantics don’t always translate cleanly into visually rich formats:
Minimal Styling in FB2
FB2 provides only structural markup, so conversions to EPUB must infer styles not explicitly defined.
Notes and Citations Issues
Footnotes and endnotes may convert incorrectly due to structural differences among formats.
Image Re-Embedding
Images must be extracted from Base64 and re-inserted into new containers, sometimes reducing quality.
Heading Hierarchy Differences
EPUB and PDF may not interpret FB2 section depth consistently.
Whitespace and Indentation
FB2 ignores formatting whitespace, but other formats may display it unexpectedly.
For best results, authors should convert FB2 → EPUB before exporting to PDF or MOBI.
Does FB2 support DRM?
No—FB2 was designed as an open, DRM-free eBook format.
Readers and libraries using FB2 rely on free distribution rather than digital restriction.
This openness helped FB2 thrive in online book-sharing communities.
Are there different types or versions of FB2?
Most FB2 files follow the FictionBook 2.0 spec, but variations exist:
Standard FB2 (Pure XML)
The classical version, containing only semantic tags and embedded images.
FB2.ZIP (Compressed)
FB2 files are often zipped for smaller size and faster distribution.
Extended FB2 Variants
Some tools add custom tags for styling or metadata, but these are not official.
Hybrid FB2→EPUB Containers
Some converters embed EPUB-like metadata for easier conversion pipelines.
Why are FB2 files usually small compared to other eBook formats?
FB2 contains mostly plain XML text with minimal markup.
It does not embed fonts, CSS, or multimedia.
The structure avoids layout instructions, reducing file complexity and size.
How large can an FB2 file be?
Typical novels remain under 1 MB because text compresses extremely well.
FB2.ZIP versions are even smaller thanks to XML compression efficiency.
Image-heavy FB2 books can reach tens of megabytes due to Base64 overhead.
Does FB2 support multilingual books or complex writing systems?
Yes—FB2 supports full Unicode, including Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic, and Asian scripts.
However, lack of font embedding means visual fidelity depends on the reading app’s system fonts.
Right-to-left support varies depending on the reader implementation.
Why do FB2 files sometimes appear plain or unstyled?
FB2 intentionally avoids stylistic markup to ensure consistent rendering.
Readers apply their own fonts, margins, and spacing, making formatting appear generic.
FB2 prioritizes readability and structure over design and typography.
Is FB2 still relevant today?
Yes—FB2 remains widely used across Russian-language digital libraries and independent book communities.
Its semantic XML structure makes it excellent for archiving and long-term preservation.
While EPUB is the global standard, FB2 thrives where simplicity, openness, and conversion-friendliness matter more than visual formatting.