Chart types
Bar (OHLC) charts
3 min
A bar chart, also called an OHLC chart, packs four prices into each vertical bar: the Open, High, Low and Close of the period.
How to read one bar
- The top of the bar is the High; the bottom is the Low. The vertical line is the period's full range.
- A small tick on the left marks the Open.
- A small tick on the right marks the Close.
So at a glance you can see where the period opened, how far it stretched, and where it settled.
What the shape tells you
- A long bar means a wide range — high volatility and disagreement.
- A short bar means a quiet, tight period.
- Close near the high (right tick high up) = buyers finished strong; close near the low = sellers finished strong.
Bar charts vs candlesticks
Bar charts carry exactly the same four data points as candlesticks but display them with thin ticks rather than coloured bodies. They are compact and were the Western standard for decades. Most traders today find candlesticks easier to read at speed because the body fills with colour — which is the next lesson.
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