In stock trading, the highest price a buyer currently offers is called the bid price.
The bid represents buying interest in a market. A trader wanting to sell immediately will generally receive the best available bid, subject to available quantity and the rules of the trading venue. Market data commonly displays the highest bid alongside the lowest ask.
The ask, also called the offer, is the lowest price at which a seller is currently willing to sell. The difference between the ask and bid is the bid–ask spread. A narrow spread often indicates substantial trading activity, while a wider spread can signal lower liquidity or greater uncertainty.
The bid is not the same as a stock’s last traded price. The last price records a completed transaction, whereas the bid describes a current unfilled buying offer. Quotes can change many times in a second, particularly for heavily traded securities or during important news.