Level 1 data is the standard market data feed used by most traders and investors. It includes the current best bid (highest price buyers are offering), the best ask (lowest price sellers are offering), the last traded price, and volume. This information helps users understand where the market is trading at that moment and how active the security is.
The data updates in real time as new trades and quotes come in. Level 1 data does not show the depth of the order book—only the top-of-book information. For many strategies, this is enough to make trading decisions, especially for long-term investors, retail traders, and anyone who does not need full market depth.
Level 1 data is easier to process and more affordable than Level 2 or Level 3 feeds. It is widely used across trading platforms, brokerage apps, research tools, and financial dashboards. Because it reflects the most recent market activity, Level 1 is a fundamental component of any market data system.
Level 1 data gives traders a clear, immediate view of the market. It provides the core information needed to monitor price movements, evaluate liquidity, and execute trades.
Level 1 data typically includes the last traded price, best bid, best ask, bid size, ask size, and total trading volume. These numbers help traders see where the market is right now, how active it is, and how much liquidity is available at the best prices. Many charts and analytics tools rely entirely on Level 1 data.
Level 1 shows only the best available prices—the highest bid and lowest ask. Level 2 shows the full depth of market, including multiple levels of bids and asks from various participants. Level 1 is simpler and easier to use, while Level 2 offers more detail for advanced traders, market makers, or high-frequency strategies.
Retail traders, long-term investors, analysts, fintech apps, and most trading platforms rely on Level 1 for everyday decisions. It’s ideal for charting, monitoring prices, and executing normal trades. Because it requires less bandwidth and processing power, it’s well-suited for mobile apps, dashboards, and automated alerts.
A trader looks at the Level 1 feed for a stock and sees a bid of $50.10 and an ask of $50.12. This narrow spread signals good liquidity and helps the trader decide when to place a market or limit order.
FinFeedAPI’s Stock API provides historical Level 1 data—last price, bid, ask, and volume—allowing developers to build trading apps, alerts, dashboards, and market-tracking tools with reliable top-of-book information.
