A nightclub (or night club or club) is a drinking, dancing and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. A nightclub is usually distinguished from bars, pubs or taverns by the inclusion of a dance floor and a DJ booth, where a DJ plays recorded dance and pop music. In the nineteenth century, however, a ‘night club’ referred to a club whose members met only at night, often at a range of locations, usually for the purpose of drinks, dinner and good conversation. The music in nightclubs is either live bands or, more commonly, a mix of songs played by a DJ through a powerful PA system. Most clubs or club nights cater to certain music genres, such as techno, house music, heavy metal, garage, hip hop, salsa, dancehall, or soca music. Many clubs also promote playing the Top 40 which has most of the night playing the most broadcast songs of the previous week.
Major cities around the world often have a variety of nightclubs, and small towns and cities also have nightclubs. Nightclubs often feature lighting and other effects, to enhance the dancing experience. Lighting and effects include flashing colored lights, moving light beams, laser light shows, strobe lights, mirror-covered disco balls, or foam, and smoke machines.