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The free course on every stock order type — market, limit, stop, trailing, bracket, OCO, and what actually happens between clicking buy and owning the shares.

Order Types & Execution

From market orders to bracket OCO — understand the trade-offs behind every order type so you know exactly what you're choosing.

10 Lessons
~52 min total
Beginner
Sean ShaReviewed by Sean Sha

Educational purposes only. This content does not constitute investment advice. Read our disclaimer

StockCram is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser, or financial institution. All content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

After this course, you'll be able to:

  • How a stock order travels from your broker to a fill, and how T+1 settlement actually works
  • When market, limit, and stop orders each fit the situation
  • How the bid-ask spread and slippage affect every trade
  • Stop-loss vs stop-limit vs trailing stop, and the gap-risk tradeoff
  • Time in force — Day, GTC, IOC, FOK, and when each makes sense
  • Bracket and OCO orders — pairing entries with exits in a single ticket
  • Where your order actually goes — routing, market makers, and payment for order flow
  • A framework for picking the right order type for the trade in front of you

Lessons in this course

Nine short lessons covering order basics, every order type you'll meet on a broker ticket, and how to think about which order fits which trade.

1

How Stock Orders Work

The journey from clicking Buy to owning the shares — what actually happens behind the scenes.

6 min readBeginner
2

Market Orders Explained

The fastest way to buy or sell a stock, and the price surprise it can bring.

5 min readBeginner
3

Limit Orders Explained

Name your price and never pay more, the order type that trades certainty of execution for control.

5 min readBeginner
4

Stop-Loss & Stop-Limit Orders

Orders that wait quietly in the background and trigger only when a price level is crossed.

6 min readIntermediate
5

Trailing Stop Orders

A stop that follows the price up and locks in only when it turns back down.

5 min readIntermediate
6

Time in Force: Day, GTC, IOC & FOK

How long an order stays alive — from end-of-day to good-til-canceled to fill-or-vanish.

6 min readIntermediate
7

How Your Order Gets Filled

Where your order really goes after you tap Buy — routing, market makers, and payment for order flow.

6 min readIntermediate
8

Bracket Orders & OCO

Pair an entry with its profit-taker and stop-loss in a single ticket, the order type that decides the exit before the trade begins.

5 min readBeginner
9

Choosing the Right Order Type

Bringing it all together — a simple way to think about which order fits which situation.

5 min readBeginner
10

Course Summary

Review everything you learned and celebrate your progress.

3 minBeginner

Know exactly what every button on your broker ticket does.

Start with how a stock order works behind the scenes — then walk through each order type, one short lesson at a time.

Start the Course