EPUB Ebook — Open ebook format based on ZIP and XHTML.
Quick facts
What is .epub
A .epub file is a EPUB Ebook — Open ebook format based on ZIP and XHTML.
In the mime-db registry it maps to application/epub+zip, and it is marked as non-compressible. When serving .epub over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to application/epub+zip — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .epub files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: application/epub+zip
Common software that reads/writes .epub:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .epub files
How to create .epub files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include Apple Books, Calibre, Kindle. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .epub extension.
application/epub+zip is the media type identifier used for .epub files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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