Convert FB2 to JSON

Drag and drop files here or click to select.
Max file size 100mb.

Uploading progress:

FB2 vs JSON Format Comparison

Aspect	FB2 (Source Format)	JSON (Target Format)
Format Overview	FB2 FictionBook 2.0 XML-based ebook format developed in Russia. Designed specifically for fiction and literature with rich metadata support. Extremely popular in Eastern Europe and CIS countries. Stores complete book structure including chapters, annotations, and cover images in a single XML file. Ebook Format XML-Based	JSON JavaScript Object Notation Lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. Widely used for web APIs, configuration files, and data exchange. The de-facto standard for structured data in web development and modern applications. Data Format Text-Based
Technical Specifications	Structure: XML document Encoding: UTF-8 Format: Text-based XML Compression: Optional (ZIP as .fb2.zip) Extensions: .fb2, .fb2.zip	Structure: Key-value pairs, arrays, objects Encoding: UTF-8 Format: Human-readable text Compression: None (external gzip common) Extensions: .json
Syntax Examples	FB2 uses XML structure: <FictionBook> <description> <title-info> <book-title>My Book</book-title> <author>John Doe</author> </title-info> </description> <body> <section> <title>Chapter 1</title> <p>Text content...</p> </section> </body> </FictionBook>	JSON uses key-value pairs: { "title": "My Book", "author": "John Doe", "chapters": [ { "title": "Chapter 1", "content": "Text content..." } ], "metadata": { "format": "fb2", "version": "2.0" } }
Content Support	Rich book metadata (author, title, genre) Cover images (embedded Base64) Chapters and sections Annotations and epigraphs Footnotes and comments Poems and citations Tables (basic) Internal links Multiple bodies (main + notes)	Nested objects and arrays String, number, boolean, null types Flexible schema-less structure Unicode text support Embedded data (Base64) Hierarchical data organization Cross-platform compatibility API-ready format
Advantages	Excellent for fiction/literature Rich metadata support Single file contains everything Widely supported by ebook readers Free and open format Good compression ratio (.fb2.zip)	Universal language support Native JavaScript integration Simple and readable syntax Lightweight and fast parsing Web API standard format Schema validation available Excellent tool ecosystem
Disadvantages	Limited outside Eastern Europe Not supported by Amazon Kindle Complex XML structure Not ideal for technical docs Manual editing is difficult	No comment support No date/time data type No binary data (requires encoding) Can be verbose for simple data Security risks if not validated
Common Uses	Fiction and literature ebooks Digital libraries (Flibusta, etc.) Ebook distribution in CIS Personal ebook collections Ebook reader apps	Web APIs and REST services Configuration files Data exchange between systems NoSQL databases (MongoDB) Web application data storage Mobile app data transfer
Best For	Reading fiction on devices Ebook library management Sharing books in CIS region Structured fiction content	Web development and APIs Data extraction and analysis System integration Configuration management
Version History	Introduced: 2004 (Russia) Current Version: FB2.1 Status: Stable, widely used Evolution: FB3 in development	Introduced: 2001 (Douglas Crockford) Current Version: ECMA-404 / RFC 8259 Status: Standardized, universal Evolution: Stable specification
Software Support	Calibre: Full support FBReader: Native format Cool Reader: Full support Other: Moon+ Reader, AlReader	JavaScript: Native support Python: json module All Languages: Built-in or library support Tools: jq, JSON validators, IDEs

Why Convert FB2 to JSON?

Converting FB2 ebooks to JSON format is essential when you need to integrate ebook content into web applications, analyze book data programmatically, or build custom reading experiences. JSON's universal compatibility makes it the ideal bridge between ebook formats and modern web technologies.

FB2 (FictionBook 2) stores books in a structured XML format with rich metadata including author information, genres, cover images, annotations, and hierarchical chapter organization. While excellent for ebook readers, FB2's XML structure is less convenient for web developers and data scientists who need to work with book content in web applications, APIs, or data analysis pipelines.

JSON provides a lightweight, JavaScript-native format that seamlessly integrates with web frameworks, databases (like MongoDB), and APIs. By converting FB2 to JSON, you can easily extract book metadata, build search indexes, create web-based reading interfaces, or feed ebook data into machine learning models. The conversion preserves the hierarchical structure while making the data immediately accessible to any programming language.

Key Benefits of Converting FB2 to JSON:

Web Integration: Ready for use in web apps and JavaScript frameworks
API Development: Perfect for building ebook APIs and services
Data Analysis: Easy to parse and analyze with Python, R, or other tools
Database Storage: Direct storage in NoSQL databases like MongoDB
Universal Compatibility: Supported by every programming language
Metadata Extraction: Quick access to author, title, genre information
Custom Readers: Build web-based or mobile reading applications

Practical Examples

Example 1: Book Metadata Extraction

Input FB2 file (book.fb2):

<title-info>
  <book-title>The Great Adventure</book-title>
  <author>
    <first-name>John</first-name>
    <last-name>Smith</last-name>
  </author>
  <genre>science_fiction</genre>
  <date>2024</date>
</title-info>

Output JSON file (book.json):

{
  "metadata": {
    "title": "The Great Adventure",
    "author": {
      "firstName": "John",
      "lastName": "Smith",
      "fullName": "John Smith"
    },
    "genre": "science_fiction",
    "date": "2024"
  }
}

Example 2: Chapter Structure Conversion

Input FB2 sections:

<section>
  <title>Chapter 1: The Beginning</title>
  <p>It was a dark and stormy night.</p>
  <p>The wind howled through the trees.</p>
</section>

Output JSON structure:

{
  "chapters": [
    {
      "title": "Chapter 1: The Beginning",
      "paragraphs": [
        "It was a dark and stormy night.",
        "The wind howled through the trees."
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Example 3: Complete Book Structure

Input FB2 book:

<FictionBook>
  <description>
    <title-info>
      <book-title>Sample Book</book-title>
    </title-info>
  </description>
  <body>
    <section>
      <title>Chapter 1</title>
      <p>Content here</p>
    </section>
  </body>
</FictionBook>

Output JSON:

{
  "title": "Sample Book",
  "metadata": {
    "format": "fb2",
    "version": "2.0"
  },
  "content": {
    "chapters": [
      {
        "title": "Chapter 1",
        "text": "Content here"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is FB2 format?

A: FB2 (FictionBook 2) is an XML-based ebook format created in Russia in 2004. It's designed for storing fiction with rich metadata including author info, genres, cover images, and structured content. FB2 is extremely popular in Eastern Europe and CIS countries, supported by readers like FBReader, Cool Reader, and Calibre.

Q: What is JSON format?

A: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight text format for data exchange. Created by Douglas Crockford in 2001, it's the standard format for web APIs, configuration files, and data storage. JSON is human-readable and supported natively by all modern programming languages.

Q: What data is preserved during conversion?

A: The conversion preserves book metadata (title, author, genre, date), chapter structure, text content, annotations, and document hierarchy. Images are extracted and can be embedded as Base64 or saved separately. The JSON output maintains the logical structure of the original FB2 file.

Q: How are images handled?

A: FB2 images (covers, illustrations) stored as Base64 in the XML are preserved in the JSON output. You can choose to keep them as Base64 strings in the JSON or extract them as separate image files with references in the JSON structure.

Q: Can I use JSON for web applications?

A: Absolutely! JSON is the perfect format for web development. You can load the converted data directly into JavaScript, use it with React/Vue/Angular frameworks, store it in MongoDB, or serve it through REST APIs. It's the most web-friendly data format available.

Q: What programming languages support JSON?

A: Every modern programming language has JSON support: JavaScript (native), Python (json module), Java (Jackson, Gson), PHP (json_encode/decode), Ruby, Go, C#, Swift, and many more. JSON parsers are built into standard libraries or available as lightweight packages.

Q: How can I validate the JSON output?

A: Use online validators like JSONLint.com or command-line tools like `jq`. Most code editors (VS Code, Sublime Text) have built-in JSON validation. You can also create JSON Schema definitions to validate the structure against specific requirements.

Q: Can I convert JSON back to FB2?

A: While technically possible with custom scripts, going from JSON to FB2 requires reconstructing the XML structure and FB2-specific metadata. It's more common to convert JSON to EPUB or other ebook formats. Tools like Calibre can help with multi-step conversions.