# FictionBook > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/FictionBook > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/FictionBook.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FictionBook > Source revision: 1333914244 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Open XML-based e-book file format}} {{multiple issues| {{Refimprove|date=March 2011}} {{Advert|date=March 2011}} {{mfn|date=May 2025}} {{update|date=May 2025}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox file format | name = FictionBook2 | logo = | extension = {{mono|fb2}} (zipped and raw), {{mono|fb2.zip}}, {{mono|fbz}} | mime = application/fictionbook2+zip | type code = | owner = [Dmitry Gribov](/source/Dmitry_Gribov) | released = 2004 | latest release version = 2.21 | latest release date = 16 January 2008 | genre = [e-book](/source/e-book) [file format](/source/file_format) | containerfor = e-books | containedby = | extended from = [XML](/source/XML) | extendedto = FictionBook3 | url = [http://fictionbook.org fictionbook.org] }} '''FictionBook''' is an open [XML](/source/XML)-based [e-book](/source/e-book) format which originated and gained popularity in Russia.{{Cite web |title=Электронные библиотеки : российский научный электронный журнал. — 2014. — Т. 7, вып. 1. |url=http://www.elbib.ru/index.phtml?page=elbib%2Frus%2Fjournal%2F2004%2Fpart1%2Fgribov | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220092918/http://www.elbib.ru/index.phtml?page=elbib%2Frus%2Fjournal%2F2004%2Fpart1%2Fgribov | archive-date=20 December 2018 |url-status=live}} FictionBook files have the {{mono|.fb2}} or {{mono|.fb3}} [filename extension](/source/filename_extension), according to their version. All FB2/FB3 capable readers also support [ZIP](/source/Zip_(file_format))-compressed FictionBook files ({{mono|.fb2.zip}} or {{mono|.fbz}}). The FictionBook2 format describes the eBook's structure, rather than defining its layout. For example, there are special tags for epigraphs, verses and quotations. All eBook metadata, such as author name, title, and publisher are also present in the eBook file. This makes the format convenient for automatic processing, indexing, ebook collection management and allows for easy automated conversion into other formats. == Software and hardware support == FB2 is supported by [e-book reader](/source/e-book_reader)s, such as [FBReader](/source/FBReader), AlReader, Haali Reader, [STDU Viewer](/source/STDU_Viewer), [CoolReader](/source/CoolReader), [Okular](/source/Okular), [Ectaco jetBook](/source/Ectaco_jetBook)s, Documents for [iOS](/source/iOS), and some others{{Which|date=July 2022}}. Firefox can read FictionBook2 by installing the [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/android/addon/fb2-reader/ FB2 Reader] extension. Many hardware vendors support FictionBook2 in their firmware: [BeBook](/source/BeBook) One, BeBook Mini and BeBook Club in Europe (and other Hanlin V3 and V5 based devices), all [PocketBook Reader](/source/PocketBook_Reader)s, [COOL-ER](/source/COOL-ER) devices, [Cybook Opus](/source/Cybook_Opus) and [Cybook Gen3](/source/Cybook_Gen3), and ASUS Eee Reader DR900. Devices based on the Hanvon N516 design can read FictionBook if a custom OpenInkpot firmware is installed; it is factory default for Azbooka 516. Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, and Sony devices do not support FictionBook directly. Conversion to and from FictionBook2 files ({{mono|.fb2}} and {{mono|.fbz}}) is possible via the cross-platform eBook management software [Calibre](/source/Calibre_(software)). Conversion to and from FictionBook2 format is also available via [Pandoc](/source/Pandoc). == FictionBook3 == {{Infobox file format | name = FictionBook3 | logo = | extension = {{mono|.fb3}} | mime = application/fictionbook3+zip | type code = | owner = [Dmitry Gribov](/source/Dmitry_Gribov) | latest release version = 0.1 (beta) | latest release date = 1 October 2008 | genre = [e-book](/source/e-book) [file format](/source/file_format) | containerfor = e-books | containedby = | extended from = FictionBook2 | url = [http://fictionbook.org fictionbook.org] }} FictionBook3 is a beta[http://fictionbook.org/index.php/FictionBook_3.0_beta_-_%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B5_%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5 FictionBook 3.0 beta - краткое описание] proposal to extend FictionBook2. In April 2017, LitRes announced its plans to bring a new “.fb3” format to the market. The new format was developed by LitRes Innovation at a cost equivalent to some US$10 million and is intended to answer a growing demand for high-quality ebooks in Russia, supporting complex layouts and large numbers of tables, lists, and illustrations. {{cite web |title=Russian Retailer LitRes Announces New .fb3 Ebook Format |url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2017/04/russia-litres-ebook-format-fb3/ |website=Publishing Perspectives |author=Eugene Gerden |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=20 January 2026 }} FictionBook2 and FictionBook3 differ in two respects: FB2 consists of a single XML file, with pictures being embedded as base64-encoded "binary" blocks, thus removing the need for additional files. FB3 has a directory structure similar to that of the [ePub](/source/ePub) format and incorporates the layout and embedding of multimedia content. FB3 adds layout capabilities and removes the need to embed pictures as Base64 encoded blocks, but for the most part stays true to the concept established with FB2. As of August 2025 there were no updates to the beta spec since 2008 and no popular e-book reader software supports it. == See also == * [List of e-book readers](/source/List_of_e-book_readers) == References == {{Reflist|refs= [http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq.html#what-formats-does-calibre-support-conversion-to-from Official list of ebook formats Calibre can convert] }} *https://opensource.com/education/15/11/ebook-open-formats *https://www.publicbooks.org/books-after-the-death-of-the-book/ *https://publishingperspectives.com/2017/04/russia-litres-ebook-format-fb3/ *https://web.archive.org/web/20240521130856/https://ain.ua/ru/2023/09/11/ne-vse-znayut-chto-format-elektronnyh-knyg-fb2-eto-rossyjskaya-razrabotka/ ==External links== * [http://gribuser.ru/xml/fictionbook/index.html.en FictionBook 2.0 Specification] {{Ebooks}} Category:XML-based standards Category:Open formats Category:Office document file formats Category:Ebooks --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [FictionBook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FictionBook) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FictionBook?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.