Market order vs limit order: what is the difference?
A market order requests execution under the available execution conditions. A limit order sets a price boundary: a buy limit seeks that price or lower; a sell limit seeks that price or higher. A limit order may remain unfilled. MetaTrader explains market and pending orders.
A price-boundary example
Assume an instrument has a current ask price of 50.10. A market buy request may execute at an available price that differs from the displayed quote. A buy limit at 49.80 sets a lower purchase boundary, but the market may never offer an executable price there.
If the price rises to 51.00 without filling the limit order, the order has not created a position. It has neither earned the price rise nor lost money from that unfilled exposure. Check whether the order remains active before entering another request.
Which trade-off am I choosing?
A market request emphasises execution under the platform's rules; a limit request constrains price. Neither guarantees a favourable outcome after execution. Available liquidity, the selected instrument and permitted fill policy can affect the result.
What should I verify?
Review the symbol, direction, volume, price boundary and expiry. After submitting an authorised order, distinguish an accepted pending request from an executed deal; the order history is the place to confirm what occurred.
Read stop-loss and take-profit orders and position size. The prices above are examples only, not instructions to buy or sell.
Educational information only. Examples exclude costs unless stated and do not describe a recommended trade or guaranteed outcome.