Example ebook files
eBook files are essentially text files that can be read on eReaders like the Kindle. Download sample eBook files in different formats, including example TXT files, example ePub files, example MOBI files and examples of Kindle's AZW file type. All free to use.
Download Example ebook files
| File | File type | File size | Mime type | Download example file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TXT Document Example File Download | TXT | 19 KB | text/plain | Download example file |
| EPUB Document Example File Download | EPUB | 8 KB | application/epub+zip | Download example file |
| MOBI Document Example File Download | MOBI | 18 KB | application/x-mobipocket-ebook | Download example file |
| AZW Document Example File Download | AZW | 19 KB | application/vnd.amazon.ebook | Download example file |
If you want to write an eBook, one of the first things you need to know is the different file types. Besides PDF and ePub, there are also TXT and MOBI files. These three types of ebooks are popular with readers because of their flexibility and ease of use. But there are a few more formats that you may want to know about, such as AZW.azw and TXT.
All of our example eBook files contain the same word count of 2,790 words and 18,863 characters, and contain mainly example lorem ipsum text. Depending on the reader format this will contain a differing number of pages, and some readers may not include pages at all and instead show it all as one long page.
About TXT .txt files
A TXT file is a file containing rows of text. Text files are commonly used for storing data. They are a more convenient format than a binary file. Some of these files contain images, while others are just plain text. TXT files are generally eight-bit files.
TXT files can be edited and read using many types of text-editing software. They can also be used to store images and video links. They are also universal files, and can be shared over a network. For example, you can use FTP to transfer a TXT document to another computer.
TXT files can be opened in a variety of text editing software, such as Microsoft Notepad or WordPad on Windows. Mac users can use Apple's TextEdit application. They can also be opened with a web browser, such as Safari or Firefox. You can also view TXT files on mobile devices such as smartphones. There are also dedicated TXT file processors for Mac and mobile devices, like Kindles and iBooks.
We have other example TXT files over in our example documents section.
About EPUB .epub files
You've probably noticed that an EPUB file is different from a PDF file. While PDFs tend to be the most printer friendly, they aren't the most flexible when it comes to reflowing and resizing. This is where EPUB comes into play. An EPUB file consists of an XHTML document, and is a vendor-independent eBook format. It's open-source and has been certified by the International Digital Publishing Forum.
EPUB files are actually just zip files. You can technically rename a .epub file to .zip and extract it to see the contents, which usually consists of a CSS file, a HTML file and some files containing meta information. Because they are zipped it makes them far smaller in size than their plaintext counterparts.
An EPUB file contains a cascading style sheet, which tells the reading system how to display the content. This style sheet functions like the CSS used on web pages, declaring the specific formatting rules for the document. EPUB files may also be protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM), which prevents them from being distributed outside of a publisher's network. Because of this, you won't be able to view them on all e-readers.
When using an EPUB file, you should check that it's compliant with accessibility standards. The International Digital Publishing Forum has a list of recommended standards for the format, including a list of accessibility features. Moreover, the World Wide Web Consortium has a list of other standards to check.
About MOBI .mobi files
Kindle users can open MOBI ebook files. To do so, simply transfer the file to your Kindle. Note, however, that the Kindle app will only open MOBI files; ePUB files can't be opened on this device. Luckily, there are several ways to upload MOBI files to Kindle.
MOBI files were created for mobile devices that have low-bandwidth connections. Amazon bought the company that developed MOBI and used it on the Kindle until 2011. Other e-books can be converted into this format by using a third-party program. This can make it easier for readers to read books on a mobile device. It also allows for features such as bookmarking, JavaScript, frames, notes, and much more. Unlike other e-book formats, MOBI files are not related to the top-level domain.
There are two main formats for MOBI. The first is AZW, which was introduced with the first Kindle. The second is KF7, which is a bit larger than MOBI 7. MobiPocket has been making combination.mobi files for years.
About AZW .azw files
You may be wondering how to open an AZW file. This type of file is used for storing Amazon Kindle eBooks. Unlike most eBooks, these can only be read by an Amazon Kindle device, which means that your computer must be compatible with their operating system. However, there are Kindle applications for Windows and Mac that can open AZW files.
You can also download a free application called Kindle to read the files. It is available on the official Amazon website or at KindleApps. If you don't have the Kindle application, you can download the Calibre application for Mac OS X. This application can open AZW files as well as many other formats.
If you have trouble opening an AZW file, there are a few possible causes. The most common is that you don't have the proper software to read the file. The best solution is to download the proper application for your computer.
AZW files often have the file extension of .azw3 and .azw.