discothèque

Discothèque is a type of nightclub where people dance to recorded music. Central to the experience is a dance floor, a loud sound system, and a lighting design that may include strobes, lasers, and visual effects. Music is typically provided by a DJ who selects and mixes tracks, sometimes backed by live acts. The word is French, from disque (record) and -thèque (library), literally a "record library." In practice, discothèques are places for social dancing, sometimes with bars, seating, and entry fees.

Originating in the mid-20th century, discothèques emerged in postwar France as venues for listening and dancing to records rather than live bands. The concept spread to other parts of Europe and North America and became widely associated with the disco era of the 1970s, when dance-oriented disco music drove a global nightlife phenomenon. The technology and culture of discotheques evolved from vinyl turntables to CDJs and digital DJ software, enabling continuous mixed sets and remixing.

Today, many venues still call themselves discothèques or discotecas, but the terms dance club and nightclub are also common. Modern discotheques emphasize varied genres such as disco, house, techno, and electronic dance music, with programming that includes peak-time sets and late-night parties. They remain spaces for social dancing, fashion, and nightlife economies, adapting to regional tastes and regulatory environments while continuing to influence popular music trends.