An unsplit-field higher order nearly perfectly matched layer (NPML) based on the auxiliary differential equation app-roach is introduced in three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain lattices. The proposed scheme has the advantage of both the NPML scheme and the higher order concept in terms of the improved absorbing performance and considerable compu-tational efficiency. By incorporating with the generalized material independent concept, the proposed implementation is indepen dent of the material's type. Thus, it has the advantages of ter-minating arbitrary media without changing the updated equa-tions in the PML regions. Its effectiveness and efficiency is fur-ther demonstrated through numerical examples.