Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted media server designed for the organization and streaming of personal audiobook and podcast collections. It functions as a digital library manager that provides centralized hosting, allowing users to stream audio content to various web and mobile clients while maintaining synchronized playback progress across all devices.
The platform distinguishes itself through comprehensive library management and multi-user administration tools. It includes integrated metadata enrichment to automatically fetch cover art and descriptive information, alongside utilities for editing chapter markers and managing podcast RSS feeds for offline listening. Security is maintained through role-based access control, enabling administrators to define custom permissions for individual users across specific media libraries.
Beyond core audio features, the system supports the hosting and display of digital reading materials. It incorporates administrative functions such as automated backup scheduling and background task processing to ensure data integrity and system reliability. The server is accessible via a standardized application programming interface, facilitating interaction with diverse client applications.
