Electronica is a broad, slightly formal name for many kinds of electronic music — both dance music for clubs and quieter music made for listening. It covers a mixed bag: house, techno, ambient, and other styles built mainly on machines, synths, and computers rather than a rock band. DJs and writers use it when they do not want a narrower label. Though actually, younger listeners often just say electronic music, EDM, or, in Taiwan, 電音, and they may never use electronica at all. Some people treat electronica as the softer, “listening” side and EDM as the club side; others use electronica as the umbrella for all of it. That split is messy, and both uses are out there. It is a music-scene word, more magazine than science class, even though it sits next to electron on the page.