Features
Kiwix provides a rich range of features to help you to obtain, appreciate, and share the content in however you want.
The complete list of features is too long to list in its entirety, so here are the most important:
Portability
Kiwix is a portable application. You don't need to install it to use it. You can copy the Kiwix directory and put it wherever you want: your hard disk, your USB flash drive or a DVD. If you want a better integration in your system, an installer is also available.
Kiwix supports a wide range of systems and architectures. You can use it with all popular desktop operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Apple Mac OS X and GNU/Linux compatible personal computers. With GNU/Linux, many distributions provide packages of Kiwix.
Kiwix is a really small and compatible software, you can install it on pretty old computers. You can also use it on minimal devices like the Raspbperry Pi or plug computers.
User friendly
You already know how to use Kiwix: it works exactly like your Web browser! Kiwix provides all the features you know and love: bookmarks, tab navigation, history, zoom, shortcuts.
Kiwix provides perfect page rendering. Fully based on Web technologies, Kiwix renders pages that are similar (if not identical) to the originals. You can enjoy Wikipedia offline as if you were online.
Kiwix is translated into your native language. You don't need to learn English or have your dictionary next to you. Kiwix is localized in more than 80 languages and works perfectly with languages that use non-Latin character sets.
Library
Kiwix has its own library which allows you to gather all content in one place. All content is listed with its metadata which can be easily opened or removed. Sorting, filtering, and searching for features will quickly find content you want.
The library provides a practical view over the online catalogue; you can download a new content in one click. This is the easiest and most secure way to complete your own local library with content coming from the Internet. On each start, Kiwix will check for new content, update online and notify you about new content.
Search engine
Kiwix has many search features which will help you to come quickly on target:
- The full text search engine allows you to search over all the content. It shows you the results in a similar way like your favourite Web search engine.
- You can also simply use the title suggestion system which dynamically proposes articles in a pop up with corresponding the title while you are typing in the search box.
- Once you have found an article, the search in page will help you to go directly to the exact section of the article you want to study.
Web server
With Kiwix, you can share content on your LAN (local area network) and on the Internet. Kiwix integrates a HTTP/Web server, which can be started on demand, directly from the Kiwix user interface. All users sharing the network can simply access your content using their browser, without installing Kiwix or downloading any ZIM files.
Called kiwix-serve, the server can be started independently; it's available as a separate command line executable. This can be useful if this is the only usage of Kiwix, on server or small devices. We use it, for example, for our Wifi hotspot solution.
Open
Kiwix is an open project, you deserve this openness. We think openness and transparency are not only needed for our users, but also the best way to deliver you the most adapted solution.
Kiwix uses open formats and protocols. Kiwix uses the open Web formats and the file format ZIM, which was created by the openZIM project. It's export feature works with a few other ones: PDF, HTML or paper. To exchange data on Internet, Kiwix uses only open protocols like HTTP, BitTorrent and Metalink.
The Kiwix project has adopted an open development process and produces open-source software. Anyone can freely execute, copy, modify and share Kiwix. You are rather invited to join and help the development, then it will really be yours!
See also