Four is the fourth studio album by English-Irish boy band One Direction, released on 17 November 2014, by Columbia Records and Syco Music. It was the last album to feature Zayn Malik, who departed the band in March 2015.
The album was preceded by the singles "Steal My Girl" and "Night Changes." Four debuted at number one in multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, making One Direction the first group since The Beatles to have their first four albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Musically, Four continues the band's progression towards a more mature sound, incorporating elements of pop rock, stadium rock, and folk. Songwriting credits include members of the band as well as established songwriters such as Julian Bunetta, Jamie Scott, and John Ryan.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its maturity and songwriting. Commercially, Four was a major success, selling millions of copies worldwide.