Nightcore is characterized by a sped-up melody (sometimes), fast rhythmic beat (usually), and ALWAYS higher than normal pitch.
A genre that originated from as a subgenre of trance and/or techno, and is still considered so by many people.
Eventually got a life on its own.
Original Nightcore fans prefer to not be associated with trance and don't like the idea of naming a "nightcore" as anything else.
Almost all nightcore music are original songs nightcored (remixed into nightcore) by "Modern Nightcore Fans"
Sub Categories are:
Nightcore (Original): Trance and or techno speed up.
Nightcore (Modern): The Title Nightcore has been more or less stolen and got a life on its own, and refers to many genre speed up and increased pitch.
Switching vocals: Nightcore tag/genre generally new singers switching male and female parts.
Nightstep: A dubstep song that has either increased tempo, pitch or both.
Negative Nightcore: Song is faster but the vocals are in a lower pitch (sounds like a male voice).
Anti-Nightcore is any song that is created by slowing down the melody (sometimes), a slow rhythmic beat (usually), and ALWAYS making the pitch lower than the norm.
Daycore: Slower tempo and lower pitch. Generally consists of fast house/happy hardcore tracks slowed down to sound like they are being sung by male vocalists.
Daystep: Slower tempo and lower pitch for a Dubstep song.
Nightstyle: It is fairly unknown genre and is considered as a hardstyle/jumpstyle genre.
It looks like nightcore genre is getting more and more popular in these days, despite not being true to the original style