# Symbology

Futures symbology is the naming convention that futures symbols use. Traditionally, there are two parts:

* **Symbol Root**\
  The Symbol Root is generally a few characters at the start that identify the type of futures contract you're trading. This is sometimes called a Futures Stem or Contract Code, and sometimes can vary across platforms. Some examples are GC for Gold futures, ES for E-Mini S\&P 500 futures, and CL for Crude Oil futures. See[example-of-available-products](https://docs.architect.co/user-guide/futures-101/example-of-available-products "mention") for a full list.
* **Contract Expiration**\
  The Contract Expiration shows when the future will expire. Traditionally the Month will be represented by a single letter:

  * January - F
  * February - G
  * March - H
  * April - J
  * May - K
  * June - M
  * July - N
  * August - Q
  * September - U
  * October - V
  * November - X
  * December - Z

  Followed by the expiration year as a single digit, e.g. 4 to represent 2024. <br>

So as an example, for the E-Mini S\&P 500 future (ES) expiring in December (Z) 2024 (4), the full symbol is ESZ4.&#x20;

In Architect, futures are categorized by their symbol root as well as the full expiration date.&#x20;

Additionally, Futures Spreads and Event Contracts contain further details that specify the relevant details of those trading instruments.&#x20;