Self-publishing platforms are online services that allow authors to publish their books without going through traditional publishing houses. These platforms provide tools for formatting, designing, and distributing books in various formats, such as eBooks and print. Popular self-publishing platforms include Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, and IngramSpark. Authors can retain more control over their work and earn higher royalties compared to traditional publishing. Additionally, self-publishing platforms often offer marketing resources to help authors reach their target audience. This democratizes the publishing process, making it accessible to a wider range of writers.