Book design
When an ebook changes shape
Reflowable books need a stable reading order, flexible spacing and testing at the reader’s chosen settings.
Start with the book’s hierarchy
An ebook reader may arrive at the middle of a book through a navigation menu rather than by turning through its opening pages. The chapter labels in that menu need to make sense on their own. Before building links, list the real divisions of the book and decide which levels help readers move through it.
For a novel with three parts and twelve chapters, part headings and chapter headings may be enough. A reference book may need a deeper hierarchy, but including every minor heading can make the menu harder to use. Select levels because they support likely reading tasks. A long list is not automatically a more useful one.
Match labels to the headings in the text. If the navigation says “Preparing the material” and the chapter says “Before you begin,” readers may wonder whether they reached the intended destination. Abbreviate only when the connection remains unmistakable. Check chapter numbering after any section has been added, removed or moved.
Connect the navigation to real destinations
Use proper document structure and the navigation features of the export workflow. A contents page that merely displays chapter names is not enough if those names do not work as links. EPUB's navigation document provides a machine-readable layer that reading systems can expose through their own interface.
Each link should land at a meaningful beginning. Arriving halfway down a section or at an empty page forces the reader to reconstruct the context. Inspect destinations after export, since the source document and final ebook can organise content differently. A link that worked in a word processor is not proof that the converted file works.
Treat notes as a journey with two directions. A reader who follows a note should be able to return to the passage they left. The visible marker and return link need clear labels and adequate separation from surrounding text, particularly when several notes appear close together.
Follow a few realistic journeys
Test navigation from the reading system's own menu as well as from any contents page within the book. Open the first chapter, a middle chapter, a nested section and the final section. Then follow a note and return. Check that the reading position and the destination make sense throughout.
Use keyboard or assistive-technology navigation where your review setup allows it. Heading levels should describe relationships consistently, rather than being selected only for their appearance. Link wording should identify its purpose without relying on a nearby image. The technical file and the visible design are parts of the same navigation system.
Keep the test tied to the delivered version. Late corrections can rename headings or alter identifiers. After a final export, repeat the navigation checks on that file and record its version. A small set of successful, representative journeys is more persuasive than an unchecked list of many links. Readers should be able to leave their place deliberately and find their way back.
