The essence of publishing is actually the process of combining publishing symbol and publishing carrier with publishing technology to obtain relevant results. Publishing symbol, publishing carrier and publishing technology are the "three elements" of human publishing. From the perspective of the "three elements", this paper puts forward the external form expansion and internal value expansion path of publishing carrier: platformization, socialization and virtualization of publishing technology; as well as the holographic, scene-oriented and service-oriented development path of publishing symbols. Based on the "three elements" and expansion options, the development path of publishing formats, including "content empowerment", "industrial interaction", "online plus offline", "making breakthrough by coupling" are sorted out.