What is a ticker symbol?

Answer 1

Ticker Symbol An arrangement of characters (usually letters) representing a particular security listed on an exchange or otherwise traded publicly. When a company issues securities to the public marketplace, it selects an unused ticker symbol for its securities which investors use to place trade orders. Every listed security has a unique ticker symbol which facilitates the vast array of trade orders that flow through financial markets each day. Investopedia says:

Stock symbols are the most recognized type of ticker symbol. Stocks listed and traded on exchanges in the United States, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), have symbols with up to three letters. Nasdaq-listed stocks have symbols with four letters.

Ticker symbols for options are structured to represent the underlying stock ticker they are based on and also their contract type (either a put or call option) and expiration date. Ticker symbols for mutual funds are usually alphanumeric, ending with the letter X to distinguish them from standard stock symbols. http://www.answers.com/ticker%20symbol

Answer 2

A ticker symbol is a unique combination of letters (and sometimes numbers) that represents a specific publicly traded company on a stock exchange. It is used to quickly identify the company's stock during trading and is often displayed alongside stock prices and information. Example: AAPL for Apple Inc.