In terms of ebook editing, what's the reason putting the ToC page at the very end?

[Pocok]

Hello,

I've noticed in some cases the publishers (if even they include one) tend to place the ToC xhtml file (and thus the whole page) to the end of the book, but why is that?

Practical reason? Tradition? Or simply that's how they do it and there is nothing more to think about here?

What do you guys think, what is the general consensus regarding that notion, do you personally even include a Table of Contents page?

Thank you!

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by Pocok

do you personally even include a Table of Contents page?

No.
I ensure that the toc.ncx and nav.xhtml files are created with the TOC. The ereader then uses one of those to display the TOC.

I think it is placed at the end so when you view a preview on, say, Amazon, the preview isn't just front matter, and some of the story chapters are also displayed.

[Turtle91]

Ditto Karellen…

I think Amazon requires a xhtml ToC for their preview?? For ePub2 I’m making for myself I do not even use an xhtml ToC, just the .ncx.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Pocok

I've noticed in some cases the publishers (if even they include one) tend to place the ToC xhtml file (and thus the whole page) to the end of the book, but why is that?

Practical reason? Tradition? Or simply that's how they do it and there is nothing more to think about here?

That was popular when Kindle Unlimited was new since going to the ToC would basically show you as having read every page. Other than that, no real reason.

Originally Posted by Pocok

What do you guys think, what is the general consensus regarding that notion, do you personally even include a Table of Contents page?

With ePub3 ebooks, the navigation document is an xhtml file which I tend to make visible and place after the cover and title page near the front of the ebook. I do much the same with an ePub2 though there the navigation document is the .ncx file and you need to create a HTML version of it for humans.

And then we have the bleeps who place a human readable ToC at the start and end of the ebook.

[Jellby]

If you want to include a ToC (maybe for "accessibility" reasons), but want it to be unobtrusive, putting it at the end is a reasonable option. Some printed books have the ToC at the end too.

I would probably not include a ToC in a simple novel with a dozen chapters. I'll probably include it if there are many more chapters, or interesting titles, or a more involved structure (parts, subchapters, etc.), or if it's a compilation of poems/short stories (or a technical book, of course), or if there are nice illustrations or artwork for the ToC... But I'd put it at the beginning (unless I want to avoid spoilers).

[JSWolf]

I delete the HTML ToC as I don't use it. When I use the ToC functionality on my Kobo Libra 2, I see the NAV ToC.