Stock is a general term used to describe certificates of ownership in any company. A share, on the other hand, refers to a share certificate of a particular company. Owning shares in a particular company makes you a shareholder.

The term stock market refers to several exchanges where shares of state-owned companies are bought and sold. Such financial activities are carried out through official exchanges and over-the-counter markets that operate according to specific regulations.

Both "stock market" and "stock exchange" are often used interchangeably. Stock traders buy or sell stocks on one or more exchanges that are part of the general market.

Below are the steps which shows you how to Invest in the stock market:

Step 1: Open a Demat and trading account. This is the starting point for investing in the aftermarket.
Step 2: Selection of stocks. Log in to your trading account and select the shares you want to sell or buy.
Step 3: Choose a price.
Step 4: Complete the transaction.

Procedure to buy shares online:

1. Getting a PAN card: Permanent Account Number (PAN) is mandatory for online purchase of shares.
2. Open a Demat account: Opening a demat account is the next important step in buying shares online.
3. Open a business account.
4. Register on the broker/broker platform.
5. You also need a bank account.

The NSE operates under the so-called National Exchange for Automated Trading (NEAT), which is a fully automated screen-based trading system that follows the principle of an order-based market. NSE has deliberately chosen a bid-based system over an order-based system.

BSE Limited, also known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, is an Indian stock exchange located on Dalal Street in Mumbai. Founded in 1875 by cotton merchant Premchand Roychand, the stock exchange is the oldest in Asia and also the tenth oldest in the world.