A trading account that allows an investor to review and test the features of a trading platform before funding the account or placing trades. A demo account is typically "funded" with simulated money, which allows the investor to conduct fictitious trades in order to become familiar with the ins and outs of the platform.
Demo accounts can allow a trader to experiment with a wide array of financial products, such as options, futures, forex and other derivatives. In addition to allowing an investor to become familiar with the available tools, it provides a way to test different trading strategies, such as carry trades in forex.