> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://developer.barchart.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://developer.barchart.com/getting-started/option-symbology-shortcuts.md).

# Option Symbology Shortcuts

### Summary & Use Cases

Use these shortcuts to request futures and equity option data at different levels of precision. You can start with the broadest symbol to return a full chain, then narrow the request by special option code, expiry, or exact contract when you need a smaller result set.

{% hint style="info" %}
Visit our Metadata page to learning how to discover Barchart's symbology by exchange
{% endhint %}

### Futures Options

These shortcuts support full-chain lookups, special option lookups, and single-contract lookups for futures options. Below is a demonstration using Barchart futures commodity root 'ZC' trading on CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade Corn).

* **ZC^O** - Returns all standard options for a given futures root
* **ZC^OX** - Returns all special options for a given futures root
* **ZC^OX\&filter=BCD** - Returns special options for a given root, exclusive to the filtered special options symbol, and includes all maturities
* **BCD^V2025^OM** - Returns only one special option and is exclusive to a specific maturity

### Equity Options:

These shortcuts support full option chains, expiry-specific chains, alternate response formats, and individual contract lookups for equities. Below is a demonstration using Barchart equity/stock symbol 'AAPL' for Apple, Inc.

* **AAPL^EO** - Returns all options for a given underlying.
* **AAPL|20261219^EO** - Returns all options for a given underlying and expiry.
* **AAPL|20261219|100.00C** - Returns data for a specific option chain.

**Note**: Openfeed accepts pipe-delimited option chain symbology for equities instead of the Options Clearing Corporation standard symbology

### Acceptable Use of Shortcuts with Openfeed APIs

The above shortcut symbols can be used with Barchart's Streaming Openfeed API. Some, but not all, of the shortcuts are available in the Snapshot Openfeed REST API.


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