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Hardcore techno, often referred to as just "hardcore", is a style of electronic music that originated in the early-to-mid-1990s in multiple locations including Rotterdam, Frankfurt and Newcastle, Australia. The style is typified by a fast tempo.^{[citation needed]} and the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples.

Hardcore techno is usually composed using music sequencers, and many earlier tracks were produced on home computers with module tracker software. The wide availability of computers, combined with the absence of financial remuneration, means that many hardcore techno musicians write for their own enjoyment and the pleasure of innovation.

As Hardcore continues to grow each different type of hardcore (each subgenre) begins to attract a larger fanbase and more support from producers. As new sub-genres grow they can become extremely different than other subgenres that are also referred to as "Hardcore."

Hardcore has also spawned several sub-genres and derivative styles including:

• Old Skool - This retrospective term is usually reserved for tracks produced in the early 90's, a large period of growth for Hardcore. Lots of piano rolls, bouncy basslines and breakbeats and plenty of female vocals and classic "rave" sounds.
• Breakcore - Combines hardcore with elements of breakbeat and glitch music. Often played at extremely high tempo.
• Gabber - Most popular in The Netherlands, Italy and Japan, characterized by heavy bass drum sound, usually created with distorion, 150+ bpm.
• Hardstyle - Characterized by hard synth riffs and the 4 to the floor bass line. Usually has a sample that is played multiple times through the song, looped or chopped.
• Industrial Hardcore or Noisecore - Hardcore influenced by industrial music, characterized by harsh beats.
• New Beat - The genre that started it all. Unlike most of its hardcore brethren this music is generally slow. New Beat originated when a DJ accidentally played a record at 33 RPM (compared to the standard 45 RPM). This made the music sound harder and sinister, essentially influencing electronic hardcore. Tracks range from 80 bpm to 120 bpm.
• Speedcore - With tracks can range from 250 bpm all the way up to 1000 bpm.
• Terrorcore - Terror from Holland which employs the use of 'scary' or 'evil' sounding samples and sounds to give the tunes a frantic "terror" feel. Popularized in Rotterdam, Holland in the mid to late 1990s.
• Darkcore - A gritty, dystopian variant featuring dark, brooding beats with even more extreme distortion than other Hardcore genres.
• Trancecore - Uplifting, 'Fluttery' Trance inspired form, Characterized by the very melodic leads, and often the use of fast 'sparkly' arpeggios. Often featuring 'pitched up' male or females vocals. Many releases are remixes of existing 'euro-trance' or 'Mainstream Trance' records. Popular in Europe, and the Uk. Popularity ever-growing due to the * Bonkers album range, which focuses mainly on Happy Hardcore..

The Hardcore community is close-knit and there are many names and definitions that are used differently in different areas. Often certain substyles of hardcore are classified by the city or country in which they are produced, such as the Frankfurt sound, the French sound, the Tokyo sound etc.

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• Digital hardcore
• Four to the floor
• Hard dance
• List of electronic music genres