Hardcore is a generic term, used to describe something more extreme than mainstream versions.

• Hardcore pornography features explicit sexual acts
• hard core predicate, a mathematical term
• Rubble used in building, usually to fill foundation holes, is known as "hardcore"
• Hard Core was Lil Kim's first album which released in 1996.

• In music, there are several musical genres called "hardcore":
  • hardcore techno: a totally instrumental form of techno
    • oldskool hardcore: Breakbeat hard dance music mainly from the UK in the early 1990s
    • happy hardcore: fast dance music which grew from oldskool with influence from Italy and the Netherlands
    • UK or upfront hardcore  : modern UK hardcore developed from happy hardcore
  • hardcore punk: a subgenre of punk rock
  • hardcore hip hop: an aggressive form of hip hop
• a style of professional wrestling see Hardcore wrestling