# Trades When an offer is fully or partially fulfilled, a trade happens. Trades can also be caused by successful path payments, because path payments involve fulfilling offers. A trade occurs between two parties—`base` and `counter`. Which is which is either arbitrary or determined by the calling query. Learn more about [trades](https://developers.stellar.org/docs/learn/glossary#decentralized-exchange). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.validationcloud.io/v1/stellar/horizon-api/trades.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.