Ebook Glossary

Below you’ll find a list of terms and their definitions to common ebook terms.

Cached File: A file of data on a local hard drive. When downloaded data is temporarily stored on your computer or mobile device, it speeds up retrieval the next time you want the same data (e.g., Web page, graphic) from the Internet or other remote source. This can become an issue when you attempt to open a different file of a previous version of your ebook with the same name.

Code: A set of computerized instructions sent to an ereading device explaining how to display the content. When your ebook is formatted, the formatter looks at a raw file of your entire book’s text, along with the code for the visual elements like bold, italic, or larger text.

Compressed/Zipped Folder: Folders that are compressed using the Compressed (zipped) Folders feature available with most computers use less drive space and can be transferred to other computers faster. You can typically work with a compressed folder and the files or programs it contains just as you would an uncompressed folder.

Conversion Error: Unexpected changes to individual words, portions of words, or punctuation caused by the process of creating your ebook.

Ebook: A book composed in—or converted to—digital format for display on a computer screen or handheld ereading device

Editorial Revision: A revision that’s not caused by a conversion error and is requested and completed after the full ebook has been formatted.

Enhanced Features: These ebook features include, but aren’t limited to: extensive bulleted, numbered, or lettered lists; six extensive text formatting such as centered text or poetry; colored text, shaded backgrounds, sidebars, blockquotes, and hyperlinks. Images and footnotes aren’t considered enhanced features.

EPUB: An ebook file format. An EPUB file is essentially HTML, CSS, and images bundled together to follow the structure of a book, and allows a wide array of devices and software to read and display the ebook.

Ereader: A handheld device—or type of computer software—you can use to view ebooks (e.g, Nook, Kindle, iPad, Adobe Digital Editions). For most ebooks, an ereader gives the user the option to adjust various settings based on his or her needs. Formatting choices like font, text size, line and word spacing, and background color are left up to the reader.

File Conversion: The conversion of computer data from one format (such as a Word document) to another (such as an EPUB file).

File Format: The specific system through which information is encoded for storage in a computer file (i.e. jpeg, PDF, or docx). Formats are often program specific, so it’s important to know how to open each different format you work with.

Fixed Layout: A special type of ebook that preserves page design. Fixed layout makes it possible to “fix” images and text to exact spots on each page. This prevents images and text from shifting around, which is perfect for illustrated children’s books, cookbooks, coffee table books, graphic novels, technical manuals, and any book that relies on a heavily-designed, static presentation, full-page images, or text that overlaps with images.

Flowing Layout: Ebooks built to adjust and change based on the device, software, or user settings when the ebook is being read.

Footnotes: A supporting piece of information formatted as links in an ebook. The footnote number will link the reader to the corresponding footnote at the end of the chapter.

Interior Images: Charts, graphs, photos, illustrations, or any other material set apart differently from the text.

Metadata: A summary of the basic information about your ebook (e.g., title, author’s name, copyright) that’s encrypted in your ebook’s files.

MOBI: An ebook file format. Unlike EPUB, MOBI is a dedicated format that can only be read on Kindle products and apps.

PDF: A file format that provides an electronic image of text—or text and graphics—that looks like a printed document and can be viewed, printed, and electronically sent.

To Approve: The final acceptance of your ebook file after it has been thoroughly reviewed and no errors or revisions have been found.