The stock market, also known as the equity market, is a public entity where stocks (shares) as well as derivatives of a company are publicly traded. The stocks are traded in stock exchanges where buyers and sellers trade stocks of corporations and mutual organizations. Exchange members pass the order on to a floor trader who then takes it to a floor trading specialist for the the trade of the stock.
NASDAQ and others
Some stock exchanges exist as physical entities while others are based entirely through an electronic network of computer trading. The NASDAQ, for instance, is a virtual exchange where trades are placed through a network of computers.
The Paris Bourse is another example of an electronic exchange network. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock market in the United States. It is a physical exchange location and only stocks listed on the NYSE can be traded.