What Are Orders? #
An order is a command you send to your broker telling them exactly how and when you want to buy or sell an asset.
Think of it as:
“Please execute this trade for me under these conditions.”
Orders can be:
Market orders — “Buy/sell immediately at the best available price.”
Limit orders — “Buy/sell only if the price reaches this level.”
Stop orders — “Trigger a buy/sell if the price crosses this threshold.”
More advanced types depending on the broker.
An order is not a trade yet. It may:
Execute instantly (filled),
Stay active until its conditions are met (working),
Expire,
Be canceled manually.
This is why the Orders panel exists:
to show everything you’ve asked the market to do, whether it already happened or is still pending.
What Are Positions? #
A position represents the actual result of your executed orders.
It shows how much of an asset you currently hold — long or short — and how it’s performing.
You have a position only when:
One or more orders have filled,
You now own (long) or owe (short) units of that asset.
A position reflects your exposure in the market:
Quantity you hold
Average fill price
Current market value
Profit or loss (P&L) that moves with the price
Sometimes, you may see positions that look unusual — for example:
Small leftover quantities due to partial fills
Rounding differences depending on the broker
Assets acquired as part of multi-leg orders
This is normal. Positions are a reflection, not an instruction. They show what you have, not what you want to do.
Why Orders and Positions Matter Together #
Orders describe your intent.
Positions describe your reality.
Together, they allow you to:
Track what you asked the system to execute
Understand what has actually executed
Manage your exposure
Close or adjust trades
Monitor live profitability
Without this distinction, trading would be confusing — positions would change “magically” and you’d never know why.
By separating orders (actions) from positions (results), everything stays clear and traceable.
The Orders Panel #
This panel displays all the orders you have placed, including their status and execution details.
Key information shown: #
Symbol — Asset you’re trading
Side — Buy or Sell
Type — Market, Limit, Stop, etc.
Price — Your order price (or execution price for market orders)
Quantity — Number of units
Avg Fill Price — Final price once the order is filled
Take Profit / Stop Loss — If attached
Placing time — When the order was created
Updated time — Last status update
Status
Filled: order completed
Working: active and waiting
Canceled
Rejected (rare, depends on broker)
Actions available: #
Cancel Order — Stop an active order from executing
Edit — Modify parameters when supported by the broker
This panel is your mission control for everything you’ve asked the market to do.
The Positions Panel #
This panel shows the open positions currently active in your account.
Key information shown: #
Symbol — Asset of the position
Side — Long or Short
P&L — Real-time profit or loss
Quantity — Current amount held
Avg Fill Price — The average price you paid (or sold for)
Last Price — Current market price
Take Profit / Stop Loss — If attached
Trade Value — Value at entry
Market Value — Value at current price
Actions available: #
Close — Immediately close the position (market order)
This action sends an order to offset the entire quantity and bring the position back to zero.
The Positions panel is your real-time snapshot of your market exposure.
How the Two Panels Work Together #
- You send an order (Orders panel).
- If it fills, a position is created or modified (Positions panel).
- You can close or adjust a position — which again creates new orders.
- Every action is traceable:
- Orders → What you asked
- Positions → What you currently hold
This creates a clear, intuitive workflow that mirrors how real brokers and exchanges operate.
Summary #
| Concept | What it means | Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Orders | “What I want to do.” Instructions to the market. | Orders Panel |
| Positions | “What I have.” Real exposure in the market. | Positions Panel |
Both panels together give you:
Transparency
Control
Traceability
Real-time understanding of your trading
