Contrary to the general trend.

Futures are standardized contracts. The so-called "contract" is a contract, and "standardization" is unification. Futures trading is actually the sale of this unified contract.

Futures are generally a forward "goods" contract. Concluding such a contract is actually a promise to buy or sell a certain amount of "goods" on a certain day in the future. Of course, such "goods" can be physical commodities such as soybeans and copper, or financial products such as stock indexes and foreign exchange. You choose the trading type and the delivery time is up to you. The contract can change hands at any time and does not necessarily require "physical" delivery as promised.