# Open Interest

*Derivatives & Options — Finicade finance glossary*

Open interest is the number of derivative contracts currently outstanding — opened and not yet closed or expired. It differs from volume, which counts trades in a session: a contract traded back and forth all day adds volume without changing open interest. Rising price with rising open interest means new money is backing the move; rising price with falling open interest usually means shorts are covering, which is a weaker signal.

**Also known as:** OI, open contracts

**Related terms:** [Option](https://finicade.com/glossary/option), [Futures Contract](https://finicade.com/glossary/futures-contract), [Liquidity](https://finicade.com/glossary/liquidity), [Options Chain](https://finicade.com/glossary/options-chain), [Max Pain](https://finicade.com/glossary/max-pain)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/open-interest