what is a stock symbol

A stock symbol, also known as a ticker symbol, is a unique series of letters or numbers used to identify a stock traded on a stock exchange. It is an abbreviation that refers to a company’s share listed on stock exchanges. When a company decides to go public, it selects the exchange to list on and then chooses a unique stock symbol to differentiate itself from other companies on the exchange. Stock symbols are arrangements of symbols or characters representing specific assets or securities listed on a stock exchange or traded publicly. They are used to distinguish a particular stock from other securities, and they help investors recognize securities issued by a company. Stock symbols are typically made up of one to five letters and are used to identify a specific stock or bond on a stock exchange.