Book vs. Document — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 29, 2024
Books are bound written works aimed at sharing comprehensive knowledge or stories, while documents are any written items intended for recording information or providing evidence.
Difference Between Book and Document
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Books typically encompass a variety of topics or narratives, forming a cohesive whole through chapters or sections, designed for educational or entertainment purposes. On the other hand, documents are more focused on providing factual information or evidence and may include forms, letters, or official records.
Books are often published in printed form with a specific structure, including a beginning, middle, and end, which helps in guiding readers through a narrative or educational content. Whereas documents can range from digital formats to printed pages and are usually shorter and more direct in purpose.
The creation of books is a more elaborate process involving authors, editors, and publishers, which can take years to complete. Documents, on the other hand, might be created quickly and can be authored by individuals or organizations for immediate use.
Books are generally intended for public consumption and are distributed through bookstores or libraries. In contrast, documents could be personal, confidential, or intended for specific audiences, such as business or legal environments.
In terms of permanence and historical value, books are often preserved as cultural artifacts, reflecting the literary and artistic endeavors of societies. Documents, however, are usually important for their content and the specific information they hold, which may be crucial for decision-making or historical records.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To educate or entertain
To record or provide evidence
Format
Printed or digital; structured
Typically digital or printed; can be unstructured
Length
Generally long and detailed
Can be short and succinct
Creation
Involves authors, editors
May be created by anyone for specific needs
Consumption
Public through various channels
Often specific to private or official use
Compare with Definitions
Book
A set of printed pages bound together containing written or illustrated material.
She read the book from cover to cover in one sitting.
Document
Official papers or forms that are required for a particular purpose.
Please fill out the employment documents before your first day.
Book
Any written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
The library has thousands of books on various subjects.
Document
A written, drawn, presented, or memorialized representation of thought, often bearing legal evidentiary status.
He signed the document after reading it thoroughly.
Book
A literary composition that forms an independent part of a publication series.
He bought the latest book in the popular fantasy series.
Document
Any written item, such as a deed, a receipt, a letter, or a paper, giving information, evidence, or officially attesting to something.
She provided all necessary documents for the application.
Book
A work that is published once serially or periodically in bound volumes.
The book on ancient civilizations is revised every five years.
Document
Texts, especially of a factual or informative nature, compiled during a particular time or event.
The museum archives contain original documents from the early 1900s.
Book
A major division of a treatise or literary work.
The first book of Paradise Lost discusses the fall of the angels.
Document
A computer file stored in a digital format, designed to be used with a specific software.
She saved the document before closing her laptop.
Book
A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical arrangement is codex (plural, codices).
Document
A document is a written, drawn, presented, or memorialized representation of thought, often the manifestation of non-fictional, as well as fictional, content. The word originates from the Latin Documentum, which denotes a "teaching" or "lesson": the verb doceō denotes "to teach".
Book
A written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers
A book of selected poems
Document
A piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence or that serves as an official record.
Book
A bound set of blank sheets for writing in
An accounts book
Document
Record (something) in written, photographic, or other form
The photographer spent years documenting the lives of miners
Book
A set of tickets, stamps, matches, samples of cloth, etc., bound together
A pattern book
Document
A written or printed paper that bears the original, official, or legal form of something and can be used to furnish decisive evidence or information.
Book
Reserve (accommodation, a place, etc.); buy (a ticket) in advance
Book early to avoid disappointment
I have booked a table at the Swan
Document
Something, such as a recording or a photograph, that can be used to furnish evidence or information.
Book
Make an official note of the personal details of (a person who has broken a law or rule)
The cop booked me and took me down to the station
Document
A writing that contains information.
Book
Leave suddenly
They just ate your pizza and drank your soda and booked
Document
(Computers) A piece of work created with an application, as with a word processor.
Book
A set of written, printed, or blank pages fastened along one side and encased between protective covers.
Document
(Computers) A computer file that is not an executable file and contains data for use by applications.
Book
An e-book or other electronic resource structured like a book.
Document
Something, especially a material substance such as a coin bearing a revealing symbol or mark, that serves as proof or evidence.
Book
A printed or written literary work
Did you ever finish writing that book?.
Document
To furnish with a document or documents.
Book
A main division of a larger printed or written work
A book of the Old Testament.
Document
To methodically record the details of
"I had thought long and logically about ... how to document the patterns of dolphin behavior" (Diana Reiss).
Book
A volume in which financial or business transactions are recorded.
Document
To support (an assertion or claim, for example) with evidence or decisive information.
Book
Books Financial or business records considered as a group
Checked the expenditures on the books.
Document
To support (statements in a book, for example) with written references or citations; annotate.
Book
A libretto.
Document
An original or official paper used as the basis, proof, or support of anything else, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information pertinent to such proof or support.
Book
The script of a play.
Document
Any material substance on which the information is represented by writing.
Book
The Bible.
Document
(computing) A file that contains text.
Book
The Koran.
Document
(obsolete) That which is taught or authoritatively set forth; precept; instruction; dogma.
Book
A set of prescribed standards or rules on which decisions are based
Runs the company by the book.
Document
(obsolete) An example for instruction or warning.
Book
Something regarded as a source of knowledge or understanding.
Document
To record in documents.
He documented each step of the process as he did it, which was good when the investigation occurred.
Book
The total amount of experience, knowledge, understanding, and skill that can be used in solving a problem or performing a task
We used every trick in the book to finish the project on schedule.
Document
To furnish with documents or papers necessary to establish facts or give information.
A ship should be documented according to the directions of law.
Book
(Informal) Factual information, especially of a private nature
What's the book on him?.
Document
That which is taught or authoritatively set forth; precept; instruction; dogma.
Learners should not be too much crowded with a heap or multitude of documents or ideas at one time.
Book
A pack of like or similar items bound together
A book of matches.
Document
An example for instruction or warning.
They were forth with stoned to death, as a document to others.
Book
A record of bets placed on a race.
Document
An original or official paper relied upon as the basis, proof, or support of anything else; - in its most extended sense, including any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information in the case; any material substance on which the thoughts of men are represented by any species of conventional mark or symbol.
Saint Luke . . . collected them from such documents and testimonies as he . . . judged to be authentic.
Book
(Games) The number of card tricks needed before any tricks can have scoring value, as the first six tricks taken by the declaring side in bridge.
Document
To teach; to school.
I am finely documented by my own daughter.
Book
To arrange for or purchase (tickets or lodgings, for example) in advance; reserve.
Document
To furnish with documents or papers necessary to establish facts or give information; as, a a ship should be documented according to the directions of law.
Book
To arrange a reservation, as for a hotel room, for (someone)
Book me into the best hotel in town.
Document
Writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
Book
To hire or engage
Booked a band for Saturday night.
Document
Anything serving as a representation of a person's thinking by means of symbolic marks
Book
To list or register in a book
Booked the revenue from last month's sales.
Document
A written account of ownership or obligation
Book
To list or record appointments or engagements in
A calendar that was booked solid on Tuesday.
Document
(computer science) a computer file that contains text (and possibly formatting instructions) using 7-bit ASCII characters
Book
To record information about (a suspected offender) after arrest in preparation for arraignment, usually including a criminal history search, fingerprinting, and photographing.
Document
Record in detail;
The parents documented every step of their child's development
Book
(Sports) To record the flagrant fouls of (a player) for possible disciplinary action, as in soccer.
Document
Support or supply with references;
Can you document your claims?
Book
To designate a time for; schedule
Let's book a meeting for next month.
Book
To be hired for or engaged in
The actor has booked his next movie with that director.
Book
To make a reservation
Book early if you want good seats.
Book
(Informal) To move or travel rapidly
We booked along at a nice clip.
Book
Of or relating to knowledge learned from books rather than actual experience
Has book smarts but not street smarts.
Book
Appearing in a company's financial records
Book profits.
Book
A collection of sheets of paper bound together to hinge at one edge, containing printed or written material, pictures, etc.
She opened the book to page 37 and began to read aloud.
He was frustrated because he couldn't find anything about dinosaurs in the book.
Book
A long work fit for publication, typically prose, such as a novel or textbook, and typically published as such a bound collection of sheets, but now sometimes electronically as an e-book.
I have three copies of his first book.
Book
A major division of a long work.
Genesis is the first book of the Bible.
Many readers find the first book of A Tale of Two Cities to be confusing.
Book
(gambling) A record of betting (from the use of a notebook to record what each person has bet).
I'm running a book on who is going to win the race.
Book
(informal) A bookmaker (a person who takes bets on sporting events and similar); bookie; turf accountant.
Book
A convenient collection, in a form resembling a book, of small paper items for individual use.
A book of stamps
A book of raffle tickets
Book
(theatre) The script of a musical or opera.
Book
Records of the accounts of a business.
Book
A book award, a recognition for receiving the highest grade in a class (traditionally an actual book, but recently more likely a letter or certificate acknowledging the achievement).
Book
(whist) Six tricks taken by one side.
Book
(poker slang) Four of a kind.
Book
(sports) A document, held by the referee, of the incidents happened in the game.
Book
A list of all players who have been booked (received a warning) in a game.
Book
(cartomancy) The twenty-sixth Lenormand card.
Book
(figurative) Any source of instruction.
Book
(with "the") The accumulated body of knowledge passed down among black pimps.
Book
A portfolio of one's previous work in the industry.
Book
(transitive) To reserve (something) for future use.
I want to book a hotel room for tomorrow night.
I can book tickets for the concert next week.
Book
(transitive) To write down, to register or record in a book or as in a book.
They booked that message from the hill
Book
(transitive) To add a name to the list of people who are participating in something.
I booked a flight to New York.
Book
To record the name and other details of a suspected offender and the offence for later judicial action.
The police booked him for driving too fast.
Book
(sports) To issue a caution to, usually a yellow card, or a red card if a yellow card has already been issued.
Book
To travel very fast.
He was really booking, until he passed the speed trap.
Book
To record bets as bookmaker.
Book
To receive the highest grade in a class.
The top three students had a bet on which one was going to book their intellectual property class.
Book
To leave.
He was here earlier, but he booked.
Book
A collection of sheets of paper, or similar material, blank, written, or printed, bound together; commonly, many folded and bound sheets containing continuous printing or writing.
Book
A composition, written or printed; a treatise.
A good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.
Book
A part or subdivision of a treatise or literary work; as, the tenth book of "Paradise Lost."
Book
A volume or collection of sheets in which accounts are kept; a register of debts and credits, receipts and expenditures, etc.; - often used in the plural; as, they got a subpoena to examine our books.
Book
Six tricks taken by one side, in the game of bridge or whist, being the minimum number of tricks that must be taken before any additional tricks are counted as part of the score for that hand; in certain other games, two or more corresponding cards, forming a set.
Book
A written version of a play or other dramatic composition; - used in preparing for a performance.
Book
A set of paper objects (tickets, stamps, matches, checks etc.) bound together by one edge, like a book; as, he bought a book of stamps.
Book
A book or list, actual or hypothetical, containing records of the best performances in some endeavor; a recordbook; - used in the phrase one for the book or one for the books.
Book
The set of facts about an athlete's performance, such as typical performance or playing habits or methods, that are accumulated by potential opponents as an aid in deciding how best to compete against that athlete; as, the book on Ted Williams suggests pitching to him low and outside.
Book
Same as book value.
Book
The list of current buy and sell orders maintained by a stock market specialist.
Book
The purchase orders still outstanding and unfilled on a company's ledger; as, book to bill ratio.
Book
To enter, write, or register in a book or list.
Let it be booked with the rest of this day's deeds.
Book
To enter the name of (any one) in a book for the purpose of securing a passage, conveyance, or seat; to reserve{2}; also, to make an arrangement for a reservation; as, to be booked for Southampton; to book a seat in a theater; to book a reservation at a restaurant.
Book
To mark out for; to destine or assign for; as, he is booked for the valedictory.
Here I am booked for three days more in Paris.
Book
To make an official record of a charge against (a suspect in a crime); - performed by police.
Book
A written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together);
I am reading a good book on economics
Book
Physical objects consisting of a number of pages bound together;
He used a large book as a doorstop
Book
A record in which commercial accounts are recorded;
They got a subpoena to examine our books
Book
A number of sheets (ticket or stamps etc.) bound together on one edge;
He bought a book of stamps
Book
A compilation of the known facts regarding something or someone;
Al Smith used to say, `Let's look at the record'
His name is in all the recordbooks
Book
A major division of a long written composition;
The book of Isaiah
Book
A written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance
Book
A collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made;
They run things by the book around here
Book
The sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina
Book
The sacred writings of the Christian religions;
He went to carry the Word to the heathen
Book
Record a charge in a police register;
The policeman booked her when she tried to solicit a man
Book
Arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance;
Reserve me a seat on a flight
The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family
Please hold a table at Maxim's
Book
Engage for a performance;
Her agent had booked her for several concerts in Tokyo
Book
Register in a hotel booker
Common Curiosities
How does a document differ in purpose from a book?
A document serves to provide information, evidence, or serve official functions, often in a more succinct and focused format than books.
What types of documents are most common in professional settings?
In professional settings, contracts, emails, reports, and memos are common types of documents.
Are books always printed?
No, books can also be digital, such as e-books, which are read on electronic devices.
What is the primary purpose of a book?
A book's primary purpose is to provide knowledge or entertainment to the general public through detailed and structured content.
Can documents be considered books?
Documents can be compiled into a book format if they meet certain criteria of length and coherence but are generally distinct due to their functional nature.
Do all books have authors?
Yes, all books have authors, although some may be written by ghostwriters or as collaborative efforts.
Is there a difference in the audience for books and documents?
Yes, books generally target a broader public audience, whereas documents might be targeted towards specific individuals or groups.
How are documents preserved compared to books?
Documents are often preserved digitally or in physical archives specifically designed for their retention, unlike books which may be kept in libraries or personal collections.
What role do editors play in the creation of books?
Editors help refine the content of books, ensuring coherence, quality, and adherence to publishing standards.
Can a document be a part of a book?
Yes, documents such as letters or historical records can be included in books as references or sources.
What is the difference in the structure between a book and a document?
Books are usually more structured into chapters and sections, whereas documents can be unstructured or formatted according to specific needs.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
