In the article, the authors consider the role of a multimedia textbook in modern education. The priority national project "Education" is being implemented in Russia - the creation and implementation of modern electronic textbooks is one of the priority concepts in this project. Electronic publications enhance interactive features such as modeling, surveys, discussions, and additional multimedia materials. Advantages of electronic textbooks: mobility, large capacity of information; the ability to constantly update content, without purchasing a new textbook and financial expenses; level of visibility: you can only put text, illustrations, diagrams and graphs in a printed publication, but you can also put animation in an electronic publication, which is convenient for visual display of academic subjects. The electronic textbook provides more opportunities for learning within the existing programs, as well as for the development and optimization of the educational process.