What Is a Ticker Box?

Executing a web search for the term "ticker box" will yield results for news tickers, countdown tickers and stock tickers---and the list goes on. The definition of ticker box, however, is not as elusive as such varied results might indicate.

Ticker Definition

A ticker is a scrolling message. Generally, tickers are programmed to display up-to-the-minute information. Tickers are usually set to continuously loop through a series of messages or updates.

According to Barron's "Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms," the name "derives from machines that, in the past, printed information by punching holes in a paper tape, making an audible ticking sound" as the tape was fed through the machine.

Ticker Boxes

A ticker box is simply a display that houses a ticker. Ticker boxes are often seen on websites and news channels. On websites, ticker boxes may also serve as search windows when clicked.

Ticker Uses

Tickers are most commonly associated with the stock market. Ticker boxes scroll through key stocks and companies to show up-to-date changes. News viewers also see ticker boxes scrolling headlines at the bottom or top of the screen. Web designers, too, use tickers to display messages, news, countdowns and updates.

References

• Investor Words: Ticker
• Smart Computing: My Yahoo! Ticker