OCC Option Symbol Format Explained
OCC and OSI option tickers look dense, but they use a predictable structure: root symbol, expiration date, call or put flag, and strike price. This guide is the parser-focused companion to the interactive decoder.
SPY 260417C00500000QQQ 260618P00480000GLDM 260618C00065000SPXW 260417P06000000How to split an OCC option symbol
Root
1 to 6 characters, often padded with spaces
Expiration
YYMMDD, for example 260417 means 2026-04-17
Type
C for call, P for put
Strike
Eight digits in thousandths, so 00500000 means 500.00
Common parser mistakes
- Do not assume the root is always three or four characters. Index and ETF roots can vary.
- Handle optional spaces after the root. Some feeds preserve padding and some compact the ticker.
- Divide the final eight strike digits by 1,000. Otherwise strikes will be off by three decimal places.
- Keep the OCC symbol separate from broker display formatting such as prefixes like
O:.
OCC option symbol FAQ
What is the OCC option symbol format?
The OCC format is root symbol, YYMMDD expiration, C or P, then an eight digit strike price stored in thousandths.
Is OCC the same as OSI?
For most practical parsing work, yes. OSI is the standardized option symbology format used for OCC-style contract identifiers.
Why does GLDM have spaces in OCC examples?
The root field can be padded to six characters. Many systems display or accept the compact form, but parsers should handle optional spaces.
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