E-book technology now allows for more interactive books. For example, e-books now have embedded links, video, and other dynamic content. E-books created especially for tablets like the iPad can also take advantage of these devices’ motion and touchscreen capabilities. E-books have also made the distribution of long-form journalism and novellas easier. Digital technology also means that publishers can print certain books on demand, therefore keeping books that might otherwise go out of print alive and avoiding the inconvenience of stocking unsold books.

The major online and digital booksellers include Amazon.com, the trailblazer and dominant bookseller; Barnes & Noble’s online and digital bookstore at bn.com; Apple’s iBookstore, which targets users of Apple’s iPods, iPhones, and iPads; and Google Play, Google’s media store, which sells new titles, backlist books, and the out-of-print titles that Google has been digitizing since 2004. Some of the advantages of online booksellers include their lower prices, their ability to offer an extensive catalog of backlist titles, and their interactive user experience.