# OTO and OTOCO Orders > OTO orders send a second order only after the first fills; OTOCO adds an OCO pair of exits. Learn how these conditional orders automate a full trade plan. Source: https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/oto-and-otoco-orders/ Track: Orders and Execution · Level: Intermediate · Updated: 2026-10-03 Publisher: TradeLabs AI (https://tradelabsai.com). Education, not financial advice. Cite as: TradeLabs Learn, "OTO and OTOCO Orders", https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/oto-and-otoco-orders/ Conditional orders let you build a trade in advance so the platform executes each step only when the previous one happens. Two common versions are **OTO** (one triggers other) and **OTOCO** (one triggers one cancels other). They are the building blocks behind bracket orders and are useful whenever you want an exit to exist only after an entry actually fills. ## OTO: one triggers other An OTO order has a primary order and a secondary order. The secondary order is sent to the market only after the primary order fills. **Example: OTO entry with a stop** You want to buy a stock if it dips to $64.00, and you want a stop at $62.40 only once you own it. **Primary:** buy limit 100 shares at $64.00. **Secondary:** sell stop 100 shares at $62.40, triggered by the primary fill. If the price never reaches $64.00, no stop is ever placed. If the buy fills, the stop goes live immediately. Without OTO, you would have to wait and place the stop yourself after the fill, which is risky if you are away from the screen. ## OTOCO: one triggers one cancels other OTOCO adds a second exit: the primary order triggers an OCO pair. This is the full bracket structure: | Step | Order | Becomes active | |---|---|---| | 1 | Entry (limit, stop or market) | Immediately | | 2a | Profit target (limit) | When the entry fills | | 2b | Stop loss (stop) | When the entry fills | | 3 | Whichever of 2a or 2b fills first | Cancels the other | See [Bracket Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/bracket-orders/) for a worked OTOCO trade and [OCO Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/oco-orders/) for how the OCO part works. ## Why use conditional orders - **No unprotected moments.** The stop exists from the instant you have a position. - **No phantom orders.** Exits do not sit in the market before you own anything, where they could open an accidental position. - **Plan in advance.** You can set up trades the night before and let them run during the day. - **Discipline.** Decisions are made before the trade, not during it. ## Other conditional order variations Platforms offer many variations on the same idea: - **Multiple targets:** one entry triggers several limit exits at different prices plus a stop that shrinks as targets fill. - **Conditional on another symbol:** an order that is sent only if another market reaches a level, for example buying a stock if an index future rises above a price. - **Time conditions:** orders activated or cancelled at a set time. Names and capabilities vary widely between brokers. Check your platform's documentation and test with small size first. ## A multiple target example **Example: One entry, two targets, one stop** You buy 200 shares at $50.00 with a stop at $48.50. Your platform lets the entry trigger three orders: a sell limit for 100 shares at $53.00, a sell limit for 100 shares at $56.00 and a sell stop for 200 shares at $48.50. When the first target fills, the stop automatically shrinks to 100 shares, and you move it to $50.00 to protect the remaining half at breakeven. If the second target fills, the stop is cancelled. If the stop fills first, both targets are cancelled. This kind of structure turns a written plan with partial profits into orders that run on their own. See [Scaling Out and Partial Profits](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/position-management/scaling-out-and-partial-profits/). ## Practical checks 1. **Time in force on every leg.** If the entry is GTC but the exits are day orders, your protection disappears at the close. See [Time in Force: Day, GTC and GTD Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/time-in-force/). 2. **Partial fills.** Confirm that exit sizes match the filled quantity. 3. **Server side execution.** Prefer conditional orders held by the broker, not only by your local software. 4. **Modifications.** Know how to adjust the stop or target after entry without breaking the link between them. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is an OTO order? One triggers other: a primary order that, when filled, automatically sends a second order such as a stop loss. ### What is the difference between OTO and OTOCO? OTO triggers a single secondary order. OTOCO triggers two secondary orders linked as one cancels other, typically a stop and a target. ### Is an OTOCO the same as a bracket order? In practice, yes. A bracket order is the common name for an entry with an attached OCO stop and target. ## Sources - Wikipedia, [Order (exchange)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_%28exchange%29) ## Continue learning - Next lesson: [Hidden and Iceberg Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/hidden-and-iceberg-orders/) - Previous lesson: [OCO Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/oco-orders/) - Related: [OCO Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/oco-orders/): A one cancels other order links two orders so that when one fills, the other is cancelled. Learn OCO exits, OCO breakout entries and how to avoid double fills. - Related: [Bracket Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/bracket-orders/): A bracket order attaches a stop loss and a profit target to an entry, and cancels one when the other fills. Learn how to set one up, with a worked example. - Related: [Limit Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/limit-orders/): A limit order trades only at your price or better. Learn how buy and sell limits work, why they may not fill, queue priority and how to set a smart limit price. - Related: [Stop Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/stop-orders/): A stop order becomes a market order once a trigger price trades. Learn how stop losses and buy stops work, where to place them and why stops can slip. - Related: [Time in Force: Day, GTC and GTD Orders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/orders/time-in-force/): Time in force sets how long an order stays active. Learn day orders, good till cancelled, good till date and extended hours settings, with examples and pitfalls.