Convert MD to FB2
Max file size 100mb.
MD vs FB2 Format Comparison
| Aspect | MD (Source Format) | FB2 (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
MD
Markdown
Lightweight markup language created by John Gruber in 2004 for plain text formatting. Supports headers, lists, links, code blocks, tables, and basic text styling. Widely used in documentation, README files, blogs, and technical writing. Human-readable format emphasizing content over presentation. Documentation Plain Text |
FB2
FictionBook 2.0
XML-based ebook format developed in Russia in 2004 as an open standard for digital books. Focuses on semantic markup describing book structure rather than appearance. Dominant format in Russian-speaking markets and CIS countries. Supports rich metadata, nested sections, poetry markup, footnotes, citations, and embedded images. Widely supported by Russian e-readers and applications. XML Ebook Russian Standard |
| Technical Specifications |
Structure: Plain text with markup
Encoding: UTF-8 (typically) Format Type: Markup language File Size: Very small Extensions: .md, .markdown |
Structure: XML document tree
Encoding: UTF-8 (excellent Cyrillic) Format Type: Semantic XML ebook File Size: Medium (compressible) Extensions: .fb2, .fb2.zip |
| Syntax Examples |
Markdown uses simple syntax: # Book Title ## Chapter 1 Text with **bold** and *italic*. > Blockquote |
FB2 uses XML tags: <FictionBook>
<description>...</description>
<body>
<section>
<title>Chapter 1</title>
<p>Text</p>
</section>
</body>
</FictionBook>
|
| Book Structure |
|
|
| Content Support |
|
|
| Reader Support |
|
|
| Advantages |
|
|
| Disadvantages |
|
|
| Common Uses |
|
|
| Geographic Adoption |
Primary Markets: Global (all regions)
Popularity: Dominant for documentation Language Support: All languages equally E-book Market: Not applicable |
Primary Markets: Russia, Ukraine, CIS countries
Popularity: Standard in Russian ebook market Language Support: Excellent for Cyrillic scripts E-book Market: Dominant in Russia/CIS |
| Best For |
|
|
Why Convert Markdown to FB2?
Converting Markdown to FB2 (FictionBook 2.0) transforms your plain text documents into XML-based ebooks optimized for the Russian-speaking ebook market and readers who prefer the semantic, open-standard FB2 format. This conversion is essential when you need to publish books for Russian e-readers like PocketBook, distribute through Russian ebook stores (LitRes, MyBook), or create well-structured ebooks with rich metadata that work seamlessly with FBReader, CoolReader, and other FB2-compatible reading applications popular in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and CIS countries.
FB2 is the dominant ebook format in the Russian-speaking world, preferred by readers and publishers for its open XML structure and semantic approach to book markup. Unlike binary formats or presentation-focused ebooks, FB2 describes what each element *is* (chapter, title, author, annotation, citation, poem, verse) rather than how it looks. This semantic approach ensures perfect text reflow across different screen sizes, excellent search capabilities, automatic formatting based on reader preferences, and long-term archival quality. The format's XML structure is human-readable, making it easy to edit, validate, and process programmatically.
The strength of FB2 lies in its rich metadata system and specialized markup for different content types. The `` preserves formatting. Images can be embedded as Base64-encoded binary data in the `
Converting Markdown to FB2 enables Russian authors, translators, and publishers to leverage Markdown's simple authoring experience while producing professional ebooks for the Russian market. Writers can draft books in Markdown using any text editor, version control their manuscripts with Git, collaborate using GitHub/GitLab, and then convert to FB2 for distribution. The resulting FB2 files can be further enhanced with detailed metadata, cover images, and genre classification using tools like Calibre or FB2Edit before uploading to Russian ebook platforms.
This workflow is particularly valuable for Russian fiction authors, poetry collections requiring verse markup, technical writers creating Russian documentation, translators converting works into Russian or other Cyrillic languages, self-publishers targeting the CIS ebook market, and anyone preferring open XML-based formats over proprietary alternatives. FB2's popularity in Russia means that readers expect it, platforms support it natively, and the ecosystem of readers and tools is mature and well-developed.
Key Benefits of Converting MD to FB2:
- Russian Market Standard: Dominant format in Russia and CIS countries
- Semantic XML Structure: Describes meaning, not appearance
- Perfect Cyrillic Support: Excellent UTF-8 handling for Russian text
- Rich Metadata: Author, title, genre, translator, series, annotation
- Poetry Markup: Specialized tags for verse and stanzas
- Open Format: XML-based, human-readable, no proprietary lock-in
- Wide Reader Support: FBReader, CoolReader, PocketBook devices
- Platform Distribution: LitRes, MyBook, Bookmate compatibility
Practical Examples
Example 1: Russian Fiction Novel
Input Markdown file (novel-ru.md):
# Новая История ## Глава 1: Начало Был обычный осенний день, когда Анна получила письмо. **"Это изменит все,"** - подумала она, держа конверт в дрожащих руках. ## Глава 2: Открытие *Что же там написано?* - размышляла Анна, медленно открывая конверт. > "Иногда один момент меняет всю жизнь."
Output FB2 file (novel-ru.fb2):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<FictionBook xmlns="http://www.gribuser.ru/xml/fictionbook/2.0">
<description>
<title-info>
<book-title>Новая История</book-title>
<lang>ru</lang>
</title-info>
</description>
<body>
<section>
<title>Глава 1: Начало</title>
<p>Был обычный осенний день, когда Анна получила письмо.</p>
<p><strong>"Это изменит все,"</strong> - подумала она...</p>
</section>
<section>
<title>Глава 2: Открытие</title>
<p><emphasis>Что же там написано?</emphasis>...</p>
<cite><p>"Иногда один момент меняет всю жизнь."</p></cite>
</section>
</body>
</FictionBook>
Example 2: Russian Poetry Collection
Input Markdown file (poems-ru.md):
# Стихи о Природе ## Осень Падают листья, Желтый ковер Укрывает землю, Осенний узор. ## Зима Белый снег кружится, Мир в тишине, Зимняя сказка В каждом окне.
Output FB2 file (poems-ru.fb2):
<FictionBook>
<description>
<title-info>
<book-title>Стихи о Природе</book-title>
<genre>poetry</genre>
<lang>ru</lang>
</title-info>
</description>
<body>
<section>
<title>Осень</title>
<poem>
<stanza>
<v>Падают листья,</v>
<v>Желтый ковер</v>
<v>Укрывает землю,</v>
<v>Осенний узор.</v>
</stanza>
</poem>
</section>
<section>
<title>Зима</title>
<poem>...</poem>
</section>
</body>
</FictionBook>
Example 3: Russian Technical Documentation
Input Markdown file (tech-guide-ru.md):
# Руководство по Python ## Введение Python - это мощный язык программирования. ### Установка 1. Скачайте Python с python.org 2. Запустите установщик 3. Проверьте: `python --version` ## Основы Переменные хранят данные: ```python name = "Анна" age = 25 ```
Output FB2 file (tech-guide-ru.fb2):
<FictionBook>
<description>
<title-info>
<book-title>Руководство по Python</book-title>
<genre>comp_programming</genre>
<lang>ru</lang>
</title-info>
</description>
<body>
<section>
<title>Введение</title>
<p>Python - это мощный язык программирования.</p>
<section>
<title>Установка</title>
<p>1. Скачайте Python с python.org</p>
<p>2. Запустите установщик</p>
<p>3. Проверьте: <code>python --version</code></p>
</section>
</section>
<section>
<title>Основы</title>
<p>Переменные хранят данные:</p>
<code>name = "Анна"
age = 25</code>
</section>
</body>
</FictionBook>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is FB2 and why is it popular in Russia?
A: FB2 (FictionBook 2.0) is an open XML-based ebook format developed in Russia in 2004. It's popular because it's semantic (describes book structure, not appearance), supports Cyrillic perfectly, is human-readable XML, works on all Russian e-readers (PocketBook, FBReader, CoolReader), and is preferred by Russian readers for its quality and openness. It's the dominant format in the CIS ebook market with extensive platform support.
Q: Will FB2 work on Kindle or iPad?
A: FB2 is not natively supported by Kindle or Apple Books. However, you can convert FB2 to EPUB or MOBI using Calibre for these devices, or use third-party reading apps like FBReader (available for iOS/Android) that support FB2 directly. For maximum compatibility with Russian content, FB2 works best with Russian e-reader devices and apps specifically designed for the Russian market.
Q: Can I add metadata like author and title?
A: The basic conversion creates FB2 structure with the first header as book title. To add comprehensive metadata (author name, genre, annotation, translator, series, cover image), use FB2 editing tools like FB2Edit, Calibre, or any XML editor. FB2's XML structure makes metadata editing straightforward—just edit the `
Q: How are Cyrillic characters handled?
A: FB2 uses UTF-8 encoding with perfect Cyrillic support. Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and other Cyrillic texts are handled flawlessly. The XML structure preserves all Cyrillic characters without any encoding issues. This makes FB2 ideal for Russian-language publications where character encoding reliability is critical. FB2 was specifically designed with Cyrillic languages in mind.
Q: Can I embed a cover image in FB2?
A: Yes! FB2 supports embedded cover images as Base64-encoded binary data within the XML. Use FB2 editing tools like Calibre or FB2Edit to add cover images after conversion. The cover is embedded in the `
Q: Is FB2 better than EPUB for Russian books?
A: For the Russian market, FB2 has advantages: it's the established standard, better supported by Russian e-readers and apps, has excellent semantic structure, simpler XML format (easier to edit), and is preferred by Russian readers for quality. EPUB has broader international support. For publishing in Russia/CIS, use FB2. For international distribution, use EPUB. Many authors create both formats—write in Markdown, convert to FB2 for Russian market and EPUB for global distribution.
Q: Can I sell FB2 ebooks commercially?
A: Absolutely! FB2 is widely used for commercial ebook sales in Russia through platforms like LitRes, MyBook, Bookmate, and other Russian ebook stores. The format is free and open—no licensing fees or proprietary restrictions. You can sell FB2 ebooks directly to readers, through aggregators, or on Russian-focused platforms. Just ensure you own the content rights and add proper metadata including ISBN if required by the platform.
Q: How do I validate my FB2 file?
A: Use FB2 validators to check XML structure against the FictionBook 2.0 schema. Online validators and tools like FB2Edit include validation features. You can also validate using standard XML schema validators with the FB2 XSD schema available from the FictionBook website. Proper validation ensures compatibility with all FB2 readers and prevents rendering issues. Most FB2 editing tools include built-in validators.