The AZW file type was developed by Amazon for use with their range of Kindle eBook readers. The proprietary format is used for eBooks that require DRM protection. The file format is the same as the MOBI file type which is used for eBooks that do not require DRM protection.
The AZW format is extremely similar to the MOBI format but boasts superior compression rates and also includes Amazon's own DRM. The DRM works by restricting usage of the file to the device id which is linked to the user details of the owner. A disadvantage of the format is that it does not allow for series related metadata to be added to the file.
The ePUB file type is an open source format developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) . Based on XHTML, XML and CSS it works well with a number of software applications which has helped the popularity of the format grow. Despite this, there are a raft of rules that must be adhered to when creating an ePUB file which has attracted criticism of the format. The format allows DRM protection to be added to a file.
The ePUB format allows reflowable content. This means that the content fits the size and shape of the screen it is being displayed upon, in the same way that text on an HTML page changes depending on the size of the display. An ePUB file tends to consist of three elements: archive, metadata and content.
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