What is the meaning of an order book in trading?
- Answer Field
-
An order book is a digital ledger that shows all buy and sell orders for a stock, organized by price levels, helping traders gauge market depth.
If you’ve ever traded shares online, you’ve probably seen the terms order book and trade book. Both are important tools for understanding what’s happening in the market. The order book shows all the buying and selling orders placed, while the trade book records trades that have actually been completed. Knowing how both work can help traders read the market better and plan their next move. Anyone with a demat account who trades regularly should know what these two books mean and how to use them.
Think of the order book as a live list of people wanting to buy or sell a stock at different prices. For example, if a share is trading at ₹100, some buyers might offer ₹99, while sellers might ask for ₹101. This list keeps changing every second as new trades happen. By looking at it, traders can see where demand and supply are strongest and get a hint of how prices might move next. It’s like watching the heartbeat of the market — always active, always shifting.
The order book keeps a record of every buy and sell order currently in the market. It follows a simple rule — first by price, then by time. So, if two buyers offer the same price, the one who placed the order first gets priority. This system ensures fairness. By studying the order book, traders can sense whether the market feels more bullish or bearish and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Buy Orders (Bids): All the buy orders are listed here, starting from the highest price offered.
Sell Orders (Asks): This section shows all sell orders, arranged from the lowest asking price to the highest.
Price Levels: These are different prices at which traders want to buy or sell a stock.
Order Size: It shows how many shares are available or wanted at each price level.
In short, the order book helps you understand intent — what traders are planning to do next.
Now, the trade book is a bit different. It records trades that have already happened. For instance, if you buy 100 shares of a stock at ₹150, that entry appears in your trade book. Unlike the order book, which shows what traders want to do, the trade book shows what they did. It lists trade prices, volumes, and the exact time of execution. By checking it, you can track your past trades and see how active the market really is.
Records Executed Trades: It logs every trade as soon as it happens.
Price and Volume Tracker: It shows the exact price and number of shares traded.
Time Stamps: Each trade is recorded with the time it took place.
So, while the order book shows possibilities, the trade book reflects results.
Trade Price: The price at which the trade happened.
Volume of Trade: The number of shares exchanged in that trade.
Trade Time: The exact moment the trade occurred.
Order ID: A unique code that identifies each trade.
Together, these details help traders analyse what’s working and what’s not in their trading patterns.
Additional Read: What is GIFT Nifty?
Parameter | Order Book | Trade Book |
Purpose | The order book shows all buy and sell orders that haven’t been executed yet. It helps traders see what others plan to do. | The trade book records trades that have already taken place. It shows what was bought or sold and when. |
Content | It lists pending orders arranged by price and quantity. You can spot where demand or supply looks stronger. | It lists completed trades with details like price, volume, and time of execution. |
Update | It updates every time a trader places, changes, or cancels an order. This makes it reflect live market activity. | It updates only when a trade is completed, storing confirmed transaction details. |
Insights | It helps traders understand market depth — how many buyers and sellers exist at different price points. It also shows liquidity. | It provides a view of market activity and helps traders identify patterns or trading trends. |
Usage | Traders use it to predict short-term price moves and plan their entry or exit. | It helps traders track performance, review past trades, and improve strategies. |
Better Market Analysis: The order book helps read market mood, while the trade book confirms real transactions. Together, they give a fuller picture.
Smarter Trading Decisions: By combining both, traders can decide the right time to buy or sell.
Improved Risk Management: These tools allow traders to notice market changes early and respond before it’s too late.
Understanding both the order book and trade book matters for anyone trading in shares. The order book shows intentions, while the trade book shows actions. When you use both together, you get a clear view of how the market behaves. This helps you make calm, informed decisions rather than acting on impulse — a habit every trader learns to value over time.
No result found
An order book is a digital ledger that shows all buy and sell orders for a stock, organized by price levels, helping traders gauge market depth.
A trade book records completed transactions, showing executed prices and volumes, while the order book shows all open buy and sell orders.
The order book helps traders analyse market depth, identify demand and supply levels, and make informed trading decisions.
Traders use the order book to see the number of buy and sell orders at different prices, helping them gauge market sentiment and potential price movements.
Yes, the order book can change quickly as new orders are placed, modified, or canceled, reflecting real-time market conditions.
The trade book shows details of completed trades, including the execution price, volume, and time of each trade.
Comparing both books helps traders understand market sentiment (order book) and validate it with actual trading activity (trade book).
Disclaimer :
The information on this website is provided on "AS IS" basis. Bajaj Broking (BFSL) does not warrant the accuracy of the information given herein, either expressly or impliedly, for any particular purpose and expressly disclaims any warranties of merchantability or suitability for any particular purpose. While BFSL strives to ensure accuracy, it does not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information. Users are advised to independently verify details and stay updated with any changes. The securities are quoted as an example and not as a recommendation. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. BFSL shall not be responsible for any consequences arising from reliance on the information provided herein and shall not be held responsible for all or any actions that may subsequently result in any loss, damage and or liability. Interest rates, fees, and charges etc., are revised from time to time, for the latest details please refer to our Pricing page.
Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this website constitutes a solicitation or offer by BFSL or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service.
BFSL is acting as distributor for non-broking products/ services such as IPO, Mutual Fund, Insurance, PMS, and NPS. These are not Exchange Traded Products. For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions please read the sales brochure carefully before investing.
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing. This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
For more disclaimer, check here : https://www.bajajbroking.in/disclaimer
Level up your stock market experience: Download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading