What is the Nasdaq, founded in 1971, best known as?

Nasdaq, founded in 1971, is best known as an electronic stock exchange. Its name originally stood for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, an automated quotation system created for securities dealers.

Unlike traditional floor-based exchanges, Nasdaq built its market around computer networks and electronic quotation and trading systems. It became especially associated with technology and growth companies, although its listed companies span many industries.

Nasdaq is also the name of a company that operates markets and publishes indexes. The Nasdaq Composite is a broad index of securities listed on the Nasdaq exchange, while the Nasdaq-100 tracks 100 of the largest nonfinancial companies listed there.

Nasdaq is not itself a stock. It is a marketplace and market-operator brand. Individual companies listed on Nasdaq still have separate ticker symbols, share prices, corporate structures, and reporting obligations.