Ticker Symbol is a unique combination of letters or numbers assigned to publicly traded companies and securities for identification on stock exchanges. It acts as a short code used by investors and traders to locate and track a specific company’s stock during market hours. For instance, Reliance Industries Limited is represented by the ticker symbol RELIANCE on the NSE and BSE.

Understanding a ticker symbol is essential for anyone participating in the stock market. It simplifies the trading process by allowing quick and precise searches for stock prices, performance charts, and related company information. Each exchange creates its own list of symbols, meaning a company listed on multiple exchanges may have different tickers across markets. For example, Tata Motors trades as TATAMOTORS on Indian exchanges, while its American Depository Receipts (ADRs) are listed as TTM on the NYSE.

Ticker symbols are often structured to indicate the company name or sector. Some may also include suffixes or extensions denoting the type of security — such as equity, debt, or preferred shares. For example, “.BE” or “.BO” may indicate listings on the BSE, while “.NS” identifies listings on the NSE.

When researching stocks, investors should always verify the correct ticker symbol to avoid confusion, especially when companies have similar names. Most financial portals and stock exchanges provide verified data sources to check ticker details accurately. By understanding ticker symbols, market participants can make more informed and efficient trading or investment decisions.