hardback

A hardback, or hardcover, is a book bound in a rigid protective cover. The cover is typically made of stiff cardboard boards wrapped in cloth, paper, or leather, and it is often paired with a dust jacket. Hardbacks contrast with softcover or paperback editions, which use flexible covers.

Construction usually follows a case binding, where the book block is sewn or glued and then attached to a separate hard cover case. Inside, endpapers join the pages to the cover and help strengthen the assembly. The dust jacket, when present, is a removable paper wrapper that protects the book and provides artwork and bibliographic information.

Materials vary by edition. Common boards are binder's cardboard; coverings range from cloth and leather to synthetic materials. The inside pages are typically of higher-quality paper than some mass-market paperbacks, and the binding is designed to withstand frequent handling. Libraries often use reinforced library bindings for durability.

Historically, hardback editions have roots in earlier bookbinding traditions but became widespread in the 19th century with advances in mass production and cloth bindings. Dust jackets grew as promotional wrappers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, hardbacks are common for first editions, scholarly works, and collector's items, though they are generally more expensive and less portable than paperbacks.

The main advantages are durability, readability, and aesthetic appeal; disadvantages include higher price and greater weight. Collectors may seek first editions, special bindings, or leather-bound copies.