A stock market is a network of exchanges, like the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq, that match up people who want to buy shares of a company with others who want to sell their own. The stock market helps provide cash for companies to grow and operate, and it provides a place for investors to find the best possible prices for those stocks.

A share of a publicly traded company represents a fractional ownership in that company and entitles the owner to dividends (if the company pays them) and voting rights on certain company matters. Share prices rise or fall based on a variety of factors, including the company’s performance, economic indicators and global events.

For many people, the most familiar way to participate in the stock market is through a brokerage account with an online broker. These accounts aren’t too different from a bank account and can be opened in about 15 minutes. Most brokers work with one or more exchanges to complete trades.

The stock market is also a place where people buy and sell securities, such as bonds and commodities. A bond is a contractual obligation to pay interest at a fixed rate at a future date, while a commodity is a raw material that can be sold for cash now or traded on the spot market. These markets are all interconnected and influenced by the same forces as stocks: supply and demand, a company’s performance or news, and overall investor sentiment.