Candlesticks
Body (real body)
The thick part of a candle, measured from the open to the close. A big body means one side dominated the whole period; a small body means the period ended near where it started.
Also called: real body, bodies
In practice
A long green body shows buyers controlled the candle from open to close with little fight. A tiny body with long wicks — a doji — shows price travelled far in both directions but settled back where it began, revealing indecision rather than strength.
Why it matters for traders
The size of the body tells you how committed one side was, which is why big bodies on a breakout confirm momentum while small bodies warn of a move that lacked conviction. Traders who weight signals by body size filter out countless low-quality 'patterns' that had no real force behind them.
Common pitfall
The error is over-weighting a single candle's body without comparing it to recent candles. A 'big' body is only meaningful relative to the average; in a high-volatility stretch it may be ordinary. Always compare a body to the recent range and to volume — a standout body at a key level signals conviction, while an identical-looking body amid chop is just another wiggle. Context, not the body alone, decides whether it matters.
Lessons that use this term
- What a single candle shows
Open, high, low, close, body and wick — the four prices packed into one shape.
Related terms
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