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The .mobi format is a file format primarily used for eBooks. It was originally developed by the French company Mobipocket SA, which was acquired by Amazon in 2005. The format is designed for the distribution and viewing of electronic books (eBooks) and is one of the formats supported by the Amazon Kindle e-reader as well as other e-reader devices and applications.
Key characteristics of the .mobi format include:
- Compatibility: It is specifically designed to be compatible with mobile devices and e-readers, including the Amazon Kindle. However, it can also be read on various platforms using appropriate software.
- DRM Support:
.mobifiles can contain Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection to prevent unauthorized distribution of the eBook. However, there are also DRM-free versions. - Content Formatting: The format supports complex content formatting, similar to what you'd find in PDF or EPUB formats, including images, tables, and formatted text.
- Reflowable Text: The text in a
.mobifile is reflowable, meaning it can adjust to fit the screen size of different devices, improving readability. - Navigation: It supports advanced navigation features within eBooks, such as hyperlinks, bookmarks, and a table of contents.
Despite its capabilities, the .mobi format has been somewhat superseded by the more open and versatile EPUB format, which is widely supported across various devices and platforms. Amazon's newer eBooks use the AZW or KF8 (AZW3) formats, which are based on the MOBI format but include support for newer features like HTML5 and CSS3 content.
To work with .mobi files outside of Kindle devices, you can use various desktop and mobile eBook readers, as well as conversion tools to convert .mobi files to other eBook formats like EPUB or PDF.
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