eReader

An e-reader is a portable electronic device designed primarily for reading digital books and other printed material. Most use electronic paper displays (e-ink) or LCD screens, and emphasize long battery life and readability in bright light. Dedicated e-readers exist (examples Kindle, Kobo, Nook), while smartphones or tablets can run e-reading apps as alternatives.

E-ink displays approximate paper-like appearance with high contrast and minimal eye strain, and consume power mainly when turning pages. Modern devices offer front lighting, adjustable font size, margins, line spacing, and variable warmth. Many support PDFs and reflowable formats; some devices also render comics or magazines with color.

File formats and rights management: common formats include EPUB, MOBI/AZW, PDF, and others; many devices use digital rights management (DRM) to limit lending and copying. Some devices support open formats and library lending services; others rely on proprietary ecosystems with synchronized stores and cloud libraries.

History and ecosystem: The device market emerged in the mid-2000s, led by Amazon Kindle (2007) and Sony Reader, followed by Nook and Kobo. Today e-readers are used via standalone devices or reading apps that synchronize across devices; libraries and bookstores enable lending, while management tools help organize collections.