An electronic musical instrument, or electrophone, produces sound through electronic circuitry, generating an electrical signal amplified by a loudspeaker. These instruments often feature user interfaces like musical keyboards, though modern setups increasingly separate the controller from the sound generator, communicating via protocols such as MIDI.
Electronic instruments are now integral to most music styles, especially popular genres like electronic dance music, where they create a wide array of sounds. Musicologists classify them as "electrophones" under the Hornbostel-Sachs system, a category added by Curt Sachs in 1940 for instruments where sound originates electronically, differentiating them from amplified acoustic instruments. This interdisciplinary field continues to see active research and development, constantly evolving how music is created and performed.