EPUB structural semantics (epub:type)

The epub:type attribute (namespace http://www.idpf.org/2007/ops) says what part of a book an element is, such as a chapter, a footnote or a page break. It can go on any element of an XHTML or SVG content document, and on body, seq and par in media overlays. Its value is a space-separated list of terms. Terms without a prefix come from the W3C’s EPUB 3 Structural Semantics Vocabulary 1.1 (default URL http://www.idpf.org/epub/vocab/structure/#); others need a prefix, and msv: (magazines) and prism: are reserved. Reading systems use the terms for navigation (landmarks, page lists), to pop up footnotes and to skip content when reading aloud. For accessibility, the equivalent ARIA role (doc-chapter, doc-noteref and so on) is now preferred, with epub:type kept for reading systems.

Partitions and divisions

Term	Meaning
`cover`	The cover: the opening section introducing the work.
`frontmatter`	Preliminary material before the main content.
`bodymatter`	The main content.
`backmatter`	Material after the main content, such as appendices and indexes.
`volume`	One volume of a work published in several.
`part`	A major division grouping chapters around a theme.
`chapter`	A chapter.
`division`	A major structural division, possibly inside a part.

Sections and components

Term	Meaning
`abstract`	A short summary.
`foreword`	An introduction, usually not by the author.
`preface`	An introduction, usually by the author.
`prologue`	An introductory section setting the scene, often part of the story.
`preamble`	An opening section of introductory prose, as in a legal text.
`introduction`	A section on the scope or nature of the work.
`epigraph`	A quotation that sets the theme.
`conclusion`	A section that sums up the work.
`epilogue`	A closing section, often looking back from later.
`afterword`	A closing statement, often on how the work came about.

Navigation

Term	Meaning
`toc`	The table of contents.
`landmarks`	A list of links to key places in the book.
`loa`	List of audio clips.
`loi`	List of illustrations.
`lot`	List of tables.
`lov`	List of video clips.
`page-list`	A list of the page breaks of a print edition.
`pagebreak`	A page break marker, carrying the page number (in its `title` or text).

Reference sections

Term	Meaning
`appendix`	Supplementary material after the main text.
`colophon`	Notes on how the edition was produced.
`credits`	A collection of credits.
`bibliography`	A list of works cited.
`glossary`	A short dictionary of terms used in the work.
`glossterm`	A term in a glossary.
`glossdef`	The definition of a glossary term.

Indexes

Term	Meaning
`index`	A back-of-book index.
`index-headnotes`	Notes at the top of an index on how to use it.
`index-legend`	A key to symbols and abbreviations used in the index.
`index-group`	A group of main entries, such as all those under one letter.
`index-entry-list`	A run of main entries or subentries.
`index-entry`	One entry: a term with its subentries, locators, cross-references and notes.
`index-term`	The word or phrase indexed.
`index-editor-note`	An editor’s note on one entry.
`index-locator`	A link to where the term occurs.
`index-locator-list`	A list of locators and ranges.
`index-locator-range`	A pair of locators spanning a range.
`index-xref-preferred`	A “see” reference to the preferred term.
`index-xref-related`	A “see also” reference.
`index-term-category`	A category a term belongs to.
`index-term-categories`	A list of term categories.

Dictionaries

Term	Meaning
`dictionary`	A collection of dictionary entries.
`dictentry`	One entry.
`condensed-entry`	A shortened entry for small screens.
`part-of-speech-list`	The list of part-of-speech groups in an entry.
`part-of-speech-group`	One part of speech with its senses and phrases.
`part-of-speech`	The grammatical function of the headword.
`sense-list`	The list of sense groups.
`sense-group`	Everything about one meaning.
`def`	The definition of one meaning.
`example`	An example of use.
`gram-info`	Extra grammatical information.
`phonetic-transcription`	How the headword is pronounced.
`etymology`	The headword’s origin.
`phrase-list`	The list of phrase groups.
`phrase-group`	An idiom or example and what goes with it.
`idiom`	A phrase being defined.
`synonym-group`	Words with the same or similar meaning.
`antonym-group`	Words with opposite meanings.
`tran`	A translation into the target language.
`tran-info`	Grammar or usage of a translation.

Preliminary sections

Term	Meaning
`titlepage`	The title page.
`halftitlepage`	The half-title page.
`copyright-page`	The copyright page.
`dedication`	The dedication.
`acknowledgments`	Thanks to those who helped.
`contributors`	A list of contributors.
`other-credits`	Credits for earlier publication, illustrations and quoted material.
`errata`	Corrections found after publication.
`imprimatur`	A formal statement allowing publication.
`imprint`	Publication or distribution details.
`revision-history`	A record of changes.

Titles and text

Term	Meaning
`fulltitle`	The full title of the work.
`covertitle`	The title as on the cover.
`halftitle`	The title on the half-title page.
`title`	The title of a component such as a list, table or figure.
`subtitle`	A secondary title.
`keyword`	A key word or phrase.
`topic-sentence`	The sentence giving a paragraph’s main point.
`concluding-sentence`	The sentence that sums up a paragraph.
`credit`	Credit for content from another source.
`notice`	A warning about the consequences of an action.
`pullquote`	A quotation pulled out for emphasis.
`tip`	Helpful extra information.

Notes and references

Term	Meaning
`footnote`	A note giving information about a passage, usually shown at the foot of the page or as a pop-up.
`footnotes`	A collection of footnotes.
`endnotes`	A collection of notes at the end of a section or the book.
`noteref`	A reference to a note, usually a superscript number; readers often show the note in a pop-up.
`biblioref`	A reference to a bibliography entry.
`glossref`	A reference to a glossary definition.
`backlink`	A link back, such as from a note to where it was referenced.

Education

Term	Meaning
`learning-objective`	A learning objective, or a reference to one.
`learning-resource`	A resource that helps learning.
`assessment`	A test, quiz or activity.
`qna`	A series of questions and answers.

Comics

Term	Meaning
`panel`	One frame.
`panel-group`	A group of panels, such as a strip.
`balloon`	A speech or thought balloon.
`text-area`	An area of text, such as a caption or narration.
`sound-area`	Text standing for a sound.

Terms for media overlays only

These describe HTML structures for the skip and escape features of media overlays; in XHTML, the HTML elements themselves carry the meaning.

Term	Meaning
`table`, `table-row`, `table-cell`	A table, row and cell.
`list`, `list-item`	A list and an item.
`figure`	A figure with its caption.
`aside`	Secondary content.

Deprecated terms

Still valid but no longer recommended:

Term	Use instead
`annoref`, `annotation`	–
`biblioentry`	an item in a `bibliography`
`bridgehead`	–
`endnote`	an item in `endnotes`
`help`	`tip`
`marginalia`	–
`note`	`footnote`
`rearnote`, `rearnotes`	`endnotes`
`sidebar`	the HTML `aside` element
`subchapter`	–
`warning`	`notice`

Earlier versions of the vocabulary also had terms that 1.1 dropped or merged, such as plural forms of the learning terms; reading systems should treat any unknown term as having no meaning.

.EPUB File Format – Structural semantics (epub:type)