For other meanings of EP, see EP (disambiguation).

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An EP (for extended play), is the name given to vinyl records (or CDs) which are too long to qualify as singles but too short to qualify as albums. Typically an album has eight or more tracks (or around one hour), a single only one or two, and an EP five to eight. A remix single is not considered an EP unless it also has other songs on it (an EP/single hybrid).

EPs were released in various sizes in different eras. The earliest EPs were 33⅓ RPM recordings on 10" (25cm) disks, and appeared at the close of the 78 RPM era. By coincidence, the format gained wide popularity with the coming of Elvis Presley, and it is sometimes erroneously stated that the term "EP" derived from his initials.

In the 1970s and 1980s there was less standardization, and EPs were made on 7" (18cm), 10", or 12" (30cm) discs running either 33⅓ or 45 RPM. Some novelty EPs used odd shapes and colours, and a few were picture discs.

The first recordings released by many punk music bands were released in EP format, mainly because the high-energy nature of the genre and short songs that resulted made it difficult to create sufficient material to fill an LP. For bands that went on to achieve commercial success, it was customary for the original EP tracks to be released later on full-length albums.

The term is also sometimes applied to compact discs with short playing times. However, since a CD can carry any amount of material up to around 80 minutes, the distinction between a CD EP and a short CD LP is somewhat arbitrary and based on artistic and marketing factors. An EP may be released as a promo, for example.

See gramophone record for more.