# Tick Chart

A **tick chart** is a tool that displays every price change of an asset in real time. The chart is built not by time, but by actual trades.

The tick chart reveals price movement details that are hidden by candles on time-based charts.

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### What is a Tick

A **tick** is every change in the last price of an asset or a completed trade.

**Example:** The price changed from 100.50 to 100.51 — this is one tick. Then to 100.52 — this is the second tick. Between changes, a second or a fraction of a second may pass.

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### Tick Chart vs Candlestick Chart

| Criterion        | Tick Chart                         | Candlestick Chart                |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **Time-based**   | No — built on each price change    | Yes — formed over fixed interval |
| **Detail level** | Maximum, every change is visible   | Averaged, hides micro-movements  |
| **Update speed** | Depends on market activity         | Constant                         |
| **For scalping** | More precise entry and exit points | Limited, due to averaging        |

**Why candles hide details:**

* Aggregate all movements over an interval
* Sequence of events inside the candle is not visible
* False breakouts and micro-spikes are missed

***

### What the Tick Chart Shows

#### Market Speed

**Frequent ticks** — high activity, many trades, chart updates quickly.

**Rare ticks** — low activity, few trades, chart updates slowly.

#### Movement Microstructure

**Smooth movement** — ticks form an even line, momentum is stable.

**Stepped movement** — ticks cluster at levels, price "brakes."

**Sharp jumps** — vertical tick lines, strong momentum.

#### Slowdowns and Accelerations

**Slowdown** — ticks appear less frequently, possible reversal.

**Acceleration** — ticks appear more frequently, strong movement.

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### When to Use Tick Chart

#### Scalping

Ideal for traders who open positions for seconds or minutes, work with small price movements, catch moments of acceleration or deceleration.

#### Post-Trade Analysis

MoonTrader has a cloud tick archive:

* Frame-by-frame analysis of each trade
* Exact entry and exit moment
* Understanding reasons for stop triggering
* Evaluation of potential to take more profit

#### Algorithm Diagnostics

Tick chart shows slippage during order execution, price spikes, reaction to large orders.

***

### How to Read Tick Chart

#### Finding Entry Points

**Entry in trend direction:**

1. Determine direction on higher timeframe
2. Wait for correction (tick slowdown)
3. Look for momentum resumption (tick acceleration)
4. Enter at the moment acceleration begins

**Reversal signs:**

* After a series of fast ticks, a pause appears
* Tick formation speed decreases
* Ticks begin to appear in the opposite direction


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