What is the difference between EPUB and PDF files when downloading e-books?
Answer
Occasionally, e-book providers may ask you to choose whether you would like to download an e-book in EPUB or PDF format. While EPUBs provide a more interactive format, optimised for viewing on devices, PDFs recreate a paper document in digital form. EPUBs have the benefits of being created with accessibility in mind and to a set of standards, meaning they can be navigated by screen reading software and are virtually always accessible to visually impaired users, both online and when downloaded. They also allow you the ability to present the full text in a range of ways that can be adapted to suit user requirements. However, e-books formatted as PDFs can also be optimised for accessibility and are similar in appearance and layout to a print book, which you may prefer over an EPUB file. Take a look at our E-resources page to find out more.