afterdark

Afterdark is the term used to describe the period after sunset, when daylight diminishes and artificial illumination becomes predominant. The exact onset of after dark depends on geographic location and time of year, but it generally covers civil twilight through night. The phrase is frequently employed in culture and branding to evoke nighttime atmosphere, mystery, or romance.

In literature and media, after dark has been used as a title or motif across genres. A notable example is Haruki Murakami's 2004 novel After Dark, which follows a single night in Tokyo through interconnected scenes and characters. The concept also appears in films, songs, television episodes, and various merchandise, often signaling themes tied to night-time activity or secrets.

In technology and popular culture, After Dark refers to a family of screensaver software originally released for Macintosh by Berkeley Systems in 1989. The package popularized animated modules such as Flying Toasters and Fishes, and helped shape the late-1980s and early-1990s desktop aesthetic and user experiences on personal computers.

Outside software, the name After Dark is used by nightclubs, events, and brands aiming to convey nightlife connotations. The lowercase form afterdark is common in branding and online domains as a compact variant of the term.