---
title: "OPDS Catalog"
description: "Browse and download your library directly from any OPDS-compatible e-reader app."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bookhoarder.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# OPDS Catalog

1. **Copy the catalog URL**

   Settings → E-Reader Email → **OPDS Catalog** — copy the URL shown
   there (it's your Bookhoarder install's own address plus `/opds`).
2. **Add it as a catalog in your e-reader app**

   KOReader, Moon+ Reader, Marvin, and most other OPDS-compatible apps
   let you add a custom catalog by URL — paste it in.
3. **Browse and download**

   Your library shows up as a catalog you can browse, search, and
   download books from directly — no email round-trip needed.

## How it works

- [OPDS](https://opds.io/) is a standard Atom-based catalog format most
  e-reader apps already know how to read — Bookhoarder exposes one at
  `/opds`
- The root feed links to an **All Books** catalog, sorted alphabetically
  by title and paginated 50 books at a time
- A search feed is available too, matching on title or author — apps
  that support OPDS's OpenSearch discovery pick this up automatically
- Each entry links straight to the book's `.epub` and its cover, the
  same files the web app itself reads from storage

## Scope

The catalog is **app-wide, not per-profile** — every profile sees the
same library through OPDS, the same way [`GET /api/books`](/api/books)
already works. Shelves aren't exposed as separate OPDS catalogs, since
they're a per-profile concept with no natural mapping onto a protocol
that has no session.

> **No login required**
>
> Unlike the web app, OPDS requests aren't scoped to a profile cookie —
> the feed is read-only and reachable by anyone who can reach the
> server, matching how `/api/books` and `/api/files/*` already behave
> unauthenticated. Put Bookhoarder behind your own network boundary or
> reverse-proxy auth if that's not the exposure you want.

Source: https://docs.bookhoarder.dev/features/opds/index.mdx