An order-driven stock exchange is a market structure where securities are bought and sold through the direct interaction of buy and sell orders, rather than through market makers or dealers. In this system, prices are determined by supply and demand based on the orders submitted by participants. All orders are displayed in an electronic order book, which shows the best available bid and ask prices along with the volume at each level, ensuring transparency.

Investors place limit orders, market orders, or stop orders, and trades are executed automatically when matching orders meet. For example, a buy order is executed when it matches a sell order at an agreed price. Because there are no intermediaries setting prices, the market is considered fairer and more efficient, especially during normal trading conditions. Popular exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange and many electronic trading platforms operate primarily on an order-driven model.

One key advantage of an order-driven exchange is lower transaction costs, as there are no dealer spreads. It also encourages competition among participants, which can lead to tighter bid-ask spreads. However, liquidity depends heavily on the number of active traders. During periods of low participation or high volatility, price fluctuations may increase.

Overall, an order-driven stock exchange promotes transparency, price efficiency, and equal access for all participants, making it a widely adopted model in modern financial markets.