Open, High, Low and Close
on a Candle
Learn exactly how open, high, low and close prices are represented visually on a single Japanese candlestick.
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This lesson explains precisely how the four core price points — open, high, low, and close — are visually represented on a single Japanese candlestick.
This is general educational content explaining foundational candlestick anatomy.
The Four Price Points
Every candlestick, regardless of the timeframe it represents, displays four price points for that period: the open (the price at the start of the period), the high (the highest price reached during the period), the low (the lowest price reached during the period), and the close (the price at the end of the period).
Where Open and Close Appear on the Candle
Open and close prices define the top and bottom of the candle's rectangular body. For a bullish candle (covered in more detail later in this unit), the open is at the bottom of the body and the close is at the top. For a bearish candle, this is reversed — the open is at the top and the close is at the bottom.
Where High and Low Appear on the Candle
High and low prices are represented by the wicks (also called shadows) — thin lines extending above and below the body. The tip of the upper wick marks the high, and the tip of the lower wick marks the low. If the high or low happens to equal the open or close, that particular wick may be very short or absent entirely.
Why All Four Points Matter Together
Viewing all four price points together provides a complete picture of a period's price activity — not just where price started and ended, but also the full range it moved through along the way. This complete picture is what distinguishes candlestick (and bar) charts from the simpler line chart covered in the previous unit.
🔖 Summary
A candlestick displays open, high, low and close through its structure: the body's top and bottom edges represent open and close (with position depending on bullish or bearish direction), while the upper and lower wicks represent the high and low. Together, these four points provide a complete visual picture of a period's price activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four price points on a candlestick?
Open (start of period), high (highest price), low (lowest price), and close (end of period).
Where is the open price shown on a bullish candle?
At the bottom of the candle's body, since price closed higher than it opened.
Where are high and low prices shown?
Via the wicks (shadows) — thin lines extending above (high) and below (low) the candle's body.
Why is showing all four price points useful?
It provides a complete picture of a period's price activity, including the full range of movement, not just the start and end points.
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