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Standard Doji

A standard doji has an open and close that are very close together. It shows a candle where neither side finished with clear control.

At A Glance

Name: Standard Doji
Category: Indecision And Neutral Candles
Type: Indecision
Number of candles: 1 candle
Typical context: At a level, after a move, or during a pause in range.

How To Identify It

Body: Tiny body or nearly flat open-close area.
Wicks: Upper and lower wicks may be short or moderate.
Relationship: The single candle is read by comparing the tiny body with the full range.

Start with the body. It should be tiny because the open and close are nearly equal. The wicks can vary, but the small body is what makes it a doji.

Context

A doji matters more when it appears after a clean move or near a level traders already care about.

A doji matters most after a strong move or at a key level because it can show hesitation where control previously looked clearer. In the middle of chop, it often just confirms the market is already undecided.

What It Shows

A doji shows balance by the close. Buyers and sellers both had a chance to move price, but the candle finished close to where it opened.

What To Watch Next

Watch which side of the doji range breaks and whether price holds outside that range. The next candle often matters more than the doji itself.

The read weakens if price keeps chopping inside the same small range. That means the doji did not lead to a clearer decision.

Common Confusion

A spinning top has a small body, but a doji has an open and close that are much closer together.

Key Takeaway

A standard doji shows indecision. It becomes more useful when it appears after a strong move or at a level where a decision matters.