Body

The thick rectangular part of a candlestick, spanning the distance between the open and the close.

The body is the first thing to read on any candle. Its size shows how decisively the period moved, and its position within the full range shows whether the move held.

A large body with short wicks means one side controlled the period with little pushback. A small body with long wicks means the move was fought and largely given back.

Also called: real body.

Taught in

Reading Your First CandleCandle Anatomy

Body, wicks, and color — the raw material of every chart you'll ever read.

Also covered in that lesson

WickThe thin line above or below a candle body, marking the high and low that price reached but did not close at.Bullish candleA candle that closes above where it opened — buyers finished the period in control.Bearish candleA candle that closes below where it opened — sellers finished the period in control.OHLCOpen, high, low and close — the four prices every candlestick encodes for its period.

Related terms

Wick Bullish candle Bearish candle