A bond is a written agreement or contract between an issuer and the holder that requires the issuer to pay the holder the bond's par value or face value plus the stated amount of interest. Bonds are most typically issued in denominations of $500 or $1,000.

In simple terms, a bond is loan from an investor to a borrower such as a company or government. The borrower uses the money to fund its operations, and the investor receives interest on the investment. The market value of a bond can change over time.