Stop Orders
A stop order becomes a market order once the stop price is reached.
Execution is guaranteed.
The final price may differ from the stop price, depending on market movement.
Stop-Limit Orders
A stop-limit order becomes a limit order once the stop price is reached.
Execution is not guaranteed.
The order will only fill at your limit price or better.
Example
Stop Order: Sell NVDA if it falls to $180. Once triggered, it sells at the next available market price.
Stop-Limit Order: Stop at $180, limit at $177. If NVDA falls to $180, it will only sell if the price is $177 or better.
Key Difference
Stop order → Guarantees execution but not the price.
Stop-limit order → Guarantees price control but not execution.