How can e-books be distributed as downloadable files or web pages?

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A person holds a Sony e-reader displaying text in front of a large illuminated sign reading e-book multiple times at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. — e-book An e-reader on display at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany, 2012.

E-books are typically distributed over the Internet through three primary methods:

Downloadable files: These are files that users download to their devices, allowing them to read the content offline.
Live web pages: These are accessed and read directly while the user is online.
Cached web pages: These are web pages that a browser stores locally, enabling the user to read the content offline.1

Distribution often relies on a distinction between the retailer’s website, where a customer discovers and purchases the e-book, and the publisher’s or distributor’s servers, from which the file is actually downloaded. This separation allows files to be managed centrally while being listed for sale or loan across numerous platforms.1

Systems of distribution are categorized as either closed or open. Closed, proprietary systems use digital rights management (DRM) to restrict access to specific software and user identities. Conversely, open systems allow for broader access and sharing of files, as seen with Project Gutenberg.1