A
paperback (also known as
softback or
softcover) is a type of
book characterized by a thick
paper or
paperboard cover, and often held together with
glue rather than
stitches or
staples. In contrast,
hardcover or hardback books are bound with cardboard covered with cloth; although more expensive, hardbacks are more durable. Inexpensive books bound in paper have existed since at least the 19th century in such forms as
pamphlets,
yellowbacks,
dime novels, and
airport novels. Modern paperbacks can be differentiated by size. In the US there are "mass-market paperbacks" and larger "trade paperbacks." In the UK, there are A-format, B-format and the largest C-format sizes.