What is a wick on a candlestick?
In one line: A wick is the thin line above or below a candle's body. It shows prices that were reached during that time but didn't hold by the close.
A simple example
A daily candle on a stock opens at $50 and closes at $51. During the day, price jumped to $53, then fell back.
The body runs from $50 to $51. The thin line from $51 up to $53 is the upper wick. It shows that buyers pushed price to $53, but sellers took $2 of it back before the close. Some people call wicks "shadows" or "tails."
Why it matters
A wick is a record of a price that got rejected. A long upper wick near a ceiling says sellers defended it. A long lower wick near a floor says buyers stepped in.
It also tells you what didn't happen. If price pokes above Resistance with a wick but closes back below, the level held. That's why our rule is simple: only a candle body closing past a level counts. A wick through it doesn't. Many Fakeouts are just wicks.
A common mistake
Jumping in when a wick crosses a level. Price spikes above a ceiling, it feels like a Breakout, and you buy. By the close, the spike is gone and you bought the top of a wick.
Wait for the candle to close. If the body closes past the level, that's information. If only the wick did, the level is still standing. Read more in breakout vs fakeout.
Wicks that stab past an obvious level and snap back often mark places where stops were triggered. That idea is covered in liquidity sweeps explained.
Questions
What does a long lower wick mean?
Price fell during the period, but buyers pushed it back up before the close. Near a floor, it can show buyers defending that area. It's a clue, not a signal on its own.
Should my stop loss go past the wick?
Usually, yes. If you set your stop inside the wick of the last turning point, normal price wiggles can reach it. Place it just past the wick's tip.
What does a candle with no wick mean?
Price opened or closed at the very high or low of that period. A big body with no wicks shows one side was in control the whole time.
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