Trading glossary
What is a wick on a candle?
A wick, or shadow, is the thin line above or below a candle's body showing the highest and lowest prices reached in that period.
The body shows the open and close; the wicks show how far price travelled beyond them. A long lower wick means price fell and was pushed back up. A long upper wick means it rose and was pushed back down.
Wicks are the raw material of many candlestick patterns, including hammers, shooting stars and dojis.
How traders use it
- Read long wicks at key levels as signs of rejection.
- Compare a wick's length with recent candles, not just the candle's own body.
- Decide whether you draw levels through wicks or bodies, and stay consistent.
Example
A daily candle on a stock opens at 50, falls to 46, then closes at 49.50. The lower wick runs from 49.50 down to 46. That long lower wick shows sellers pushed hard and buyers took most of it back.
Frequently asked questions
Are wicks and shadows the same?
Yes. Both terms describe the lines above and below the body.
Do wicks count for breakouts?
Most traders use closes for breakouts and treat wicks through a level as tests or sweeps.
Related terms
Related patterns
Educational content only, not financial advice. Chart patterns describe probabilities, not certainties, and every pattern can fail. See our disclaimer.