The opening price in a candlestick represents the first traded price when a specific time period begins. This could be the start of a minute, hour, day, or any chosen timeframe. It marks where the market initially agreed on value before new information, orders, and emotions entered that session.

From a trading perspective, the open reflects initial sentiment. If the price opens above the previous close, it often signals early bullish confidence. If it opens lower, it may show caution or overnight selling pressure. In active markets like forex or crypto, the open also captures the impact of news released between sessions, making it a key reference point.

The opening price forms one end of the candle’s real body, working together with the closing price to show who controlled the session. A candle that opens low and closes high suggests buyers gained control after the open. One that opens high and closes lower suggests sellers took over.

Many traders treat the opening price as a decision level. Price holding above the open can indicate strength, while repeated moves below it may hint at weakness. In session-based trading, such as when London or New York opens, this level often acts as short-term support or resistance.

In simple terms, the opening price shows where the market started the conversation for that period, setting the tone for everything that follows.