Rave music consists of forms of electronic music for dancing that are associated with the rave scene. Most often, it is used to describe music that depends heavily on samples and synthesizers, and is high energy.

Rave music closely followed the acid house phenomenon. Initially "rave music" was considered a particular style that was a combination of fast breakbeat and more hardcore forms of techno. Early 1990s efforts by Nebula 2, Acen, The Prodigy (Experience), Utah Saints and The Shamen (En-Tact) were quintessential "rave music" and were being played at massive all night raves like Fantazia, Raindance, Universe and others.

By the early 2000s, the term was used more generically to mean any one of a number of different styles (or combinations thereof) that might be played at a rave party. In this sense, rave music is more associated with an event than a particular genre, per se. At a rave there can be different "arenas" or areas which play different styles of rave music. Very large raves called massives may include ten or more separate arenas, each with their own music style.