CBZ
Format Guide
The open standard that revolutionized digital comic reading - discover why CBZ is the most popular comic book format.
What is CBZ Format?
CBZ (Comic Book ZIP) is an open file format for digital comic books that uses the widely-supported ZIP compression standard. It contains sequential images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, or WebP) representing comic book pages, along with optional metadata files that provide information about the comic's title, author, and other details.
Unlike proprietary formats, CBZ is built on the open ZIP standard, making it universally compatible with comic readers, easy to create, and simple to modify. This openness has made CBZ the preferred format for both comic creators and readers worldwide.
Technical Specifications
- File Extension: .cbz
- Compression: ZIP/Deflate algorithm
- Image Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP
- Metadata: ComicInfo.xml, ComicBookInfo
- Open Standard: Based on ZIP specification
- Unicode Support: Full international character support
CBZ Structure
Why CBZ is the Preferred Format
Universal Compatibility
Works with virtually every comic reader application across all platforms - Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Open Standard
Built on the open ZIP specification, ensuring long-term accessibility and freedom from proprietary restrictions.
Mobile Friendly
Excellent support on mobile devices with fast loading times and efficient memory usage.
Rich Metadata
Supports comprehensive metadata through ComicInfo.xml, including series information, credits, and reading progress.
Easy Creation
Anyone can create CBZ files using free tools, making it accessible to creators and fans alike.
Fast Performance
ZIP decompression is highly optimized across all platforms, resulting in quick page loading and smooth reading.
ComicInfo.xml Metadata Standard
One of CBZ's greatest strengths is its support for the ComicInfo.xml metadata standard. This XML file, when included in the CBZ archive, provides rich information about the comic that comic readers can use to organize and display your collection properly.
Basic Information
- • Title and Series name
- • Issue number and volume
- • Publication date
- • Publisher information
- • Page count
- • Summary/description
Extended Metadata
- • Creator credits (writer, artist, colorist)
- • Genre and age rating
- • Reading direction (LTR/RTL)
- • Language and country
- • Web links and identifiers
- • Community ratings
Example ComicInfo.xml
<?xml version="1.0"?> <ComicInfo> <Title>Amazing Spider-Man</Title> <Series>The Amazing Spider-Man</Series> <Number>1</Number> <Volume>1</Volume> <Year>2018</Year> <Month>12</Month> <Publisher>Marvel Comics</Publisher> <Writer>Nick Spencer</Writer> <Penciller>Ryan Ottley</Penciller> <PageCount>20</PageCount> <Summary>Spider-Man swings into action...</Summary> <Genre>Superhero</Genre> <AgeRating>Teen</AgeRating> </ComicInfo>
The CBZ Ecosystem
Desktop Readers
- • CDisplayEx
- • ComicRack
- • YACReader
- • Sumatra PDF
- • Perfect Viewer
Mobile Apps
- • ComicScreen (iOS)
- • Chunky Comic Reader
- • Perfect Viewer (Android)
- • ComiXology
- • Comic Zeal
Web Readers
- • Komga
- • Kavita
- • Ubooquity
- • ComicServer
- • Mylar3
Creation Tools
- • Any ZIP utility
- • ComicInfo.xml editors
- • Batch converters
- • Metadata managers
- • Python scripts
CBZ Creation Workflow
Prepare Images
Scan or create sequential comic page images
Name Files
Use sequential naming (001.jpg, 002.jpg, etc.)
Add Metadata
Create ComicInfo.xml file with comic details
Create ZIP
Compress all files into a ZIP archive
Rename Extension
Change .zip extension to .cbz
CBZ vs CBR: The Clear Winner
Why Choose CBZ
CBR Limitations
The Verdict
CBZ is the clear winner for digital comic distribution. Its open nature, universal compatibility, and rich metadata support make it the standard choice for creators, distributors, and readers alike.
Ready to Convert to CBZ?
Experience the benefits of the open CBZ format with our free converter tools!