Digital eBook formatted for the Amazon Kindle, a wireless reading device; contains formatted book text and chapter markers; similar to a Mobipocket .PRC file; can be transferred from a PC to the Kindle via a standard USB connection; can also be read using the Kindle desktop software.

Most AZW files contain DRM protection that only allows them to be viewed on the Amazon Kindle or with Amazon Kindle reading software. However, it may be possible to view unprotected Kindle eBooks on a PC with Mobipocket Reader by changing the file extension from ".azw" to ".prc."