The Dow Jones Industrial Average, often simply called the Dow Jones, is a stock market index that tracks the performance of 30 large, publicly-owned companies in the United States. It is one of the oldest and most widely recognized stock indices, providing a snapshot of the overall health of the U.S. economy. The index is price-weighted, meaning that companies with higher stock prices have a greater influence on the index's movements. The Dow Jones is used by investors and analysts to gauge market trends and make informed investment decisions.