"Typically, option traders are self-directed investors, meaning they don't work directly with a financial advisor to help manage their options trading portfolio. As a result they are in full control of their trading decisions and transactions."

Options are a type of derivative security.  If you buy an options "contract", it grants you the right, but not the obligation to buy or sell (specific task) an underlying asset at a set price (resource allocation) on or before a certain date (time horizon).