Metallic bonding is intramolecular bonding within metals. It involves the delocalised sharing of free electrons between a lattice of metallic cations.

Metallic bonding, as with covalent bonding is non-polar, in that there is no (for pure elemental metals) or very little (for alloys) electronegativity difference among the atoms participating in the bonding interaction, and the electrons involved in that interaction are delocalized across molecular orbitals. It is also akin to ionic bonding and distinct from covalent bonding in that the interatomic forces are largely isotropic and are extensive throughout the chemical, rather than being confined to a discrete molecule.

See also chemical bond.