A mixtape is a compilation of music from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium such as a cassette tape, CD, or digital playlist. The term originated in the 1980s and was used to describe a homemade compilation of music. Mixtapes can be ordered sequentially or made into a continuous program by beatmatching the songs and creating seamless transitions at their beginnings and endings with fades or abrupt edits. Mixtapes can be either private or public. A private mixtape is usually intended for a specific listener or private social event, while a public mixtape, or "party tape," usually consists of a recording of a club performance by a DJ and is intended to be sold to multiple individuals.

In hip hop and R&B culture, a mixtape often describes a self-produced or independently released album issued free of charge to gain publicity or avoid possible copyright infringement. However, the term has been applied to a number of releases published for profit in the 2010s, and the line between a release billed as a mixtape and one referred to as a studio album or extended play has become increasingly blurred.

Mixtapes are often used as a guerilla marketing strategy to get more people listening to and familiar with new music from indie or emerging artists. They are free, easy to distribute, and are used to gain buzz around an artist or even an upcoming album release. Mixtapes are typically as high-quality as albums, and most songs on the mixtape come with original production.

In summary, a mixtape is a compilation of music from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium, and can be either private or public. In hip hop and R&B culture, a mixtape often describes a self-produced or independently released album issued free of charge to gain publicity or avoid possible copyright infringement. Nowadays, mixtapes are best described as a compilation of music that’s released for free, and they are typically as high-quality as albums.