An ebook, short for electronic book, is a digital publication that is designed to be read on electronic devices such as computers, tablets, e-readers, or smartphones. It is a digital alternative to traditional printed books. Ebooks are typically formatted in a way that allows the text to flow and adjust to different screen sizes, enabling readers to customise the font size, style, and layout according to their preferences.
Ebooks can contain various types of content, including novels, textbooks, reference books, magazines, and even interactive elements such as hyperlinks, multimedia, and embedded videos. They are often distributed in popular file formats such as PDF (Portable Document Format) or EPUB (Electronic Publication).
One of the advantages of ebooks is their portability. Readers can carry a vast library of ebooks in a single device, making it convenient to access their favourite books anytime and anywhere without the need for physical copies. Additionally, ebooks often offer search functionality, bookmarking options, and the ability to highlight and annotate text, enhancing the reading experience. Ebooks can be purchased and downloaded from online bookstores or obtained from digital libraries. Many classic works of literature and public domain books are free, while others require purchase or subscription. With the increasing popularity of ebooks – the e-book market is growing exponentially and is expected to show 4,2% annual growth by 2024, according to Kitaboo – numerous platforms and devices have emerged to cater to the demand for digital reading materials. This is largely thanks to many features that make users’ lives and the reading experience easier, interactive and engaging. Printed books can hardly compete with the vast choice that e-books offer. Many of these features can be used in education.