Technical Glossary / Chart Types & Price Representation
Bar Chart (OHLC)
A chart that marks each period as a vertical line from low to high, with ticks for the open and the close.
Teaching sketch. It shows the shape, not a live quote and not a trade signal.
Definition
An OHLC bar is the same four prices as a candle. The vertical line is the range. A tick to the left is the open. A tick to the right is the close. There is no filled body.
How it works
Traders who learned on bar charts read the right-hand tick the way candle traders read the body. A close near the high, after a wide range, says buyers finished the period in control.
How to identify it
Look for vertical ranges with a left tick and a right tick, and no rectangle. If the platform hides the open tick, you no longer have a full OHLC bar.
How traders use it
Use bars when you want the range without the visual weight of candle bodies. Patterns such as inside bars and outside bars are defined on the high and low, so they show up clearly here.
Common mistakes
Assuming a bar chart contains less information than candles. With both ticks drawn, the four prices are identical.
Limitations
A dense bar chart is harder to scan for body size. Candle patterns that depend on body colour are easier on a candlestick chart.
This note explains the term. A sketch shows the shape of the idea. Neither is a recommendation, a signal, or a comment on any security. Indicator settings and exchange conventions differ. Check the live chart and the contract specification before you use a number.