Short selling and buying long are opposite strategies in stock trading. When an investor buys long, they purchase a stock with the expectation that its price will rise over time. The goal is to sell the stock later at a higher price, making a profit from the price appreciation. Buying long is a traditional, straightforward approach to investing in stocks, relying on upward market trends.

In contrast, short selling involves selling a stock that the trader does not own. The trader borrows shares from a broker and sells them, expecting the stock price to drop. If the price falls, the trader buys back the shares at the lower price, returns them to the lender, and profits from the difference.

While buying long has limited risk (the stock can only drop to zero), short selling carries potentially unlimited risk because the stock price can theoretically rise indefinitely, leading to massive losses. Short sellers face additional costs, such as margin interest and the risk of a short squeeze if the stock price suddenly rises due to increased demand.

In summary, buying long profits from rising prices, while short selling profits from falling prices. Short selling is generally considered riskier due to its potential for significant losses.