ONIX-FOR-BOOKS

The XML standard for book metadata — used worldwide between publishers and retailers.

Definition

ONIX for Books 3.0 (published 2009, revised 2014) covers 700+ data elements: ISBN-13, market prices, audience, rights, marketing copy, BIC/Thema subject codes, contributors (author, translator, illustrator). Adopted by Amazon Vendor Central Books, Hachette, Penguin Random House, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books.

Origin

Created by EditEUR (Europe) and BISG (USA) in the late 1990s. ONIX 2.1 in 2003, ONIX 3.0 in 2009.

Example in context

An ONIX 3.0 file sent by Gallimard to FNAC containing 250 new releases for the month.

Related terms

• GTIN — ISBN-13 used in ONIX.