Convert FB2 to MOBI

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FB2 vs MOBI Format Comparison

Aspect FB2 (Source Format) MOBI (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
MOBI
Mobipocket eBook

Proprietary ebook format based on the Open eBook standard. Originally developed by Mobipocket SA (acquired by Amazon in 2005). Native format for Amazon Kindle devices and apps. Supports reflowable text, images, bookmarks, and annotations. Being replaced by KF8/AZW3 but still widely supported.

Ebook Format Kindle Compatible
Technical Specifications
Structure: XML document
Encoding: UTF-8
Format: Text-based XML
Compression: Optional (ZIP as .fb2.zip)
Extensions: .fb2, .fb2.zip
Structure: PalmDOC compression
Encoding: CP1252 or UTF-8
Format: Binary format
Compression: Built-in PalmDOC/HUFF/CDIC
Extensions: .mobi, .prc, .azw
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>

MOBI is a binary format (not human-readable). It contains:

MOBI File Structure:
- PalmDB header
- MOBI header with metadata
- Compressed HTML content
- Image records (JPEG/GIF)
- Index and EXTH records
- DRM information (if present)

HTML markup inside:
<h1>Chapter 1</h1>
<p>Text content...</p>
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)
  • Book metadata (title, author, publisher)
  • Cover images (JPEG/GIF)
  • Table of contents (NCX)
  • Reflowable text layout
  • Images (inline and referenced)
  • Basic HTML formatting
  • Hyperlinks (internal and external)
  • Bookmarks and annotations
  • Dictionary lookup support
  • Text-to-speech support
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)
  • Native Kindle format
  • Excellent device compatibility
  • Small file sizes (compression)
  • Supports reflowable text
  • Built-in DRM support
  • Fast rendering on e-ink displays
  • Dictionary and translation features
Disadvantages
  • Limited outside Eastern Europe
  • Not supported by Amazon Kindle
  • Complex XML structure
  • Not ideal for technical docs
  • Manual editing is difficult
  • Proprietary Amazon format
  • Limited CSS styling support
  • Being replaced by KF8/AZW3
  • Binary format (not editable)
  • No advanced layout features
  • Limited multimedia support
Common Uses
  • Fiction and literature ebooks
  • Digital libraries (Flibusta, etc.)
  • Ebook distribution in CIS
  • Personal ebook collections
  • Ebook reader apps
  • Kindle devices and apps
  • Ebook publishing on Amazon
  • Self-published books
  • Fiction and non-fiction ebooks
  • Personal document conversion
Best For
  • Reading fiction on devices
  • Ebook library management
  • Sharing books in CIS region
  • Structured fiction content
  • Reading on Kindle devices
  • Amazon ebook distribution
  • Older Kindle compatibility
  • Simple reflowable content
Version History
Introduced: 2004 (Russia)
Current Version: FB2.1
Status: Stable, widely used
Evolution: FB3 in development
Introduced: 2000 (Mobipocket SA)
Acquired by Amazon: 2005
Status: Legacy format
Evolution: Replaced by KF8/AZW3 (2011)
Software Support
Calibre: Full support
FBReader: Native format
Cool Reader: Full support
Other: Moon+ Reader, AlReader
Kindle Devices: Native support
Kindle Apps: Full support
Calibre: Read and write
Other: FBReader, PocketBook

Why Convert FB2 to MOBI?

Converting FB2 ebooks to MOBI (Mobipocket) format is essential when you want to read Russian or Eastern European ebooks on Amazon Kindle devices. FB2 is the dominant ebook format in Russia and CIS countries, but Kindle devices don't support it natively. MOBI format ensures perfect compatibility with all Kindle e-readers and Kindle apps on smartphones, tablets, and computers.

FB2 (FictionBook 2) is an XML-based ebook format extremely popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. It excels at storing fiction with rich metadata including author information, cover images, annotations, and structured chapters. However, FB2 is not supported by Amazon's ecosystem, making conversion necessary for the millions of Kindle users worldwide.

MOBI (Mobipocket) is the native ebook format for Amazon Kindle devices. Originally developed by Mobipocket SA in 2000 and acquired by Amazon in 2005, MOBI became the standard format for Kindle e-readers. While Amazon has introduced newer formats like KF8 and AZW3, MOBI remains widely supported and ensures backward compatibility with older Kindle devices. The format uses PalmDOC compression for efficient storage and supports reflowable text that adapts to different screen sizes.

Key Benefits of Converting FB2 to MOBI:

  • Kindle Compatibility: Read FB2 books on any Kindle device or app
  • Preserved Formatting: Maintains chapters, formatting, and structure
  • Cover Images: Transfers cover art and inline images
  • Metadata Transfer: Book title, author, and description preserved
  • Table of Contents: Automatic NCX navigation generation
  • Reflowable Text: Adjusts to any screen size and font settings
  • Dictionary Support: Built-in dictionary lookup on Kindle
  • Sync Features: Whispersync for bookmarks and reading position

Practical Examples

Example 1: Book Metadata Conversion

Input FB2 file (book.fb2):

<title-info>
  <book-title>War and Peace</book-title>
  <author>
    <first-name>Leo</first-name>
    <last-name>Tolstoy</last-name>
  </author>
  <genre>prose_classic</genre>
  <lang>en</lang>
  <date>1869</date>
</title-info>

Output MOBI metadata (automatically embedded):

MOBI Header:
Title: War and Peace
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: (if specified)
Language: en
Publication Date: 1869
Genre: Fiction/Classics

Visible on Kindle as:
"War and Peace"
by Leo Tolstoy

Example 2: Chapter Structure

Input FB2 chapters:

<body>
  <section>
    <title>Part One</title>
    <section>
      <title>Chapter I</title>
      <p>Text content...</p>
    </section>
    <section>
      <title>Chapter II</title>
      <p>More text...</p>
    </section>
  </section>
</body>

Output MOBI navigation (NCX table of contents):

Table of Contents:
Part One
  Chapter I
  Chapter II

HTML inside MOBI:
<h1>Part One</h1>
<h2>Chapter I</h2>
<p>Text content...</p>
<h2>Chapter II</h2>
<p>More text...</p>

Example 3: Text Formatting

Input FB2 formatting:

<p>This is <strong>bold text</strong> and <emphasis>italic text</emphasis>.</p>
<p>Here is a <code>monospace word</code>.</p>
<subtitle>A Subtitle</subtitle>

Output MOBI HTML:

<p>This is <b>bold text</b> and <i>italic text</i>.</p>
<p>Here is a <code>monospace word</code>.</p>
<h3>A Subtitle</h3>

Renders on Kindle with proper
bold, italic, and monospace formatting.

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 MOBI format?

A: MOBI (Mobipocket) is an ebook format originally developed by Mobipocket SA in 2000 and acquired by Amazon in 2005. It became the native format for Kindle e-readers and uses PalmDOC compression for efficient storage. While newer formats like KF8/AZW3 exist, MOBI remains widely supported for backward compatibility.

Q: Will my FB2 book work on Kindle after conversion?

A: Yes! After converting to MOBI, your book will work perfectly on all Kindle devices (Paperwhite, Oasis, Voyage, etc.) and Kindle apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. Simply transfer the .mobi file to your Kindle via USB or email it to your Kindle address.

Q: Are images and cover preserved during conversion?

A: Yes! FB2 stores images as Base64-encoded data within the XML. During conversion, these images are extracted and embedded in the MOBI file as JPEG or GIF. The cover image becomes the MOBI cover, and inline images are placed correctly within the text.

Q: How do I transfer MOBI files to my Kindle?

A: Two methods: (1) USB: Connect Kindle to computer, copy .mobi file to "documents" folder. (2) Email: Send .mobi file as attachment to your Kindle email address (find in Amazon account settings). The book appears in your library automatically.

Q: Will formatting and chapters be preserved?

A: Yes! FB2's section structure converts to MOBI's NCX table of contents, allowing easy chapter navigation on Kindle. Text formatting (bold, italic, quotes) is preserved. However, some advanced FB2 features like poems and epigraphs may be simplified to basic paragraphs.

Q: Is MOBI better than EPUB for Kindle?

A: For older Kindle devices (before 2011), MOBI is better as it's natively supported. Newer Kindles support both MOBI and KF8/AZW3. However, Kindle also accepts EPUB files now (via Send to Kindle), which are automatically converted. MOBI ensures maximum compatibility across all Kindle generations.

Q: Can I convert MOBI back to FB2?

A: Yes, using tools like Calibre. The conversion path would be MOBI -> EPUB -> FB2, or directly MOBI -> FB2. However, some FB2-specific metadata (like detailed genre classifications) may need manual adjustment. The core content and structure will be preserved.