IDM, short for intelligent dance music, is an electronic music genre which began as a style of techno in the early 1990s and moved on to include the textures and sound manipulation methods of Musique concrete and early, "true" industrial bands such as Coil and Nurse With Wound. Unlike the driving, pounding sound of dancefloor techno, IDM is more cerebral, usually being quite a bit slower, more melodic, less aggressive, and more artistic, quirky and improvisational. It is sometimes informally called intelligent techno, listening techno, art techno, experimental techno, or braindance. The genre was also known for a while as electronica, though that term now encompasses many forms of electronic music from big beat to acid house.

It is sometimes informally called intelligent techno, listening techno, art techno, experimental techno, or braindance. The genre was also known for a while as electronica, though that term now encompasses many forms of electronic music from big beat to acid house.

According to its proponents, IDM represents a forward-thinking, experimental arm of techno, taking electronic music in various new directions. Some IDM is influenced by earlier styles of music: for example the music of B12, Kirk DeGiorgio, and others seems inspired by jazz. Other influences include avant-garde classical composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen and Iannis Xenakis; and early hip-hoppers like Mantronix.