Teaching sketch. It shows the shape, not a live quote and not a trade signal.
Definition
An uptrend is the market making progress upward. Each rally exceeds the prior rally, and each pullback holds above the prior pullback. Dow theory called this the definition of an advance. One higher high is not a trend. You need the rhythm of highs and lows.
How to identify it
Mark swing highs and swing lows, not every candle. Connect the lows. If the latest low is above the prior low and the latest high is above the prior high, the structure is up on that timeframe.
Bullish reading
The working assumption is that pullbacks are corrections until a low breaks. Traders buy pullbacks or breaks of new highs, with risk under the last higher low.
Bearish reading
A close under the last higher low is the first structural warning. A later lower high confirms the rhythm has changed. Until then, fading the uptrend is countertrend.
Common mistakes
Calling a single green week an uptrend, or using a trendline break as a substitute for a broken higher low.
Limitations
Trends are timeframe-specific. A daily uptrend contains hourly downtrends. Name the timeframe before you name the trend.
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.