The stock market is like a giant store where people buy and sell tiny pieces of companies, called "stocks". When you buy a stock, you own a small part of that company. If the company does well, the value of your stock can go up, and you might make money. If it does poorly, the value can go down. People trade stocks to try to earn profits. Prices change based on news, company performance, and investor emotions. It’s a mix of business, economics, and psychology, and it helps companies raise money and investors grow their wealth over time.