Candlestick patterns provide instant insights into market sentiment. For example, candlesticks with a small real body suggest indecision in the market, whereas candlesticks with a long real body suggest strong directional moves. Candlestick shadows also provide insight into intra-session volatility, which can be critical when looking at the underlying market psychology. Doji patterns are a great example of how these patterns can provide critical insights.
Let’s take a look at how to identify and trade the doji candlestick pattern, as well as an example of the doji patterns in action.
What Is the Doji Pattern?
The doji candlestick pattern is a cross-, plus- or T-like pattern that indicates indecision in the market. Traders can use the pattern on its own or in combination with other candlestick patterns to identify potential reversals in the prevailing trend.
Doji candlestick patterns are very simple to recognize:
- Very thin or no real body
- Shadows of any length
The very thin real body suggests that there’s a lot of directional indecision in the market—that is, bulls and bears are fighting over control. Longer shadows usually indicate a larger fight with a lot of volatility, while shorter shadows suggest a quieter market with little volatility. Doji patterns with long shadows are usually the most reliable trading signals.
How to Trade Doji Patterns
Doji patterns are interpreted by varying positions and length of shadows, so traders have given different names to different shadow arrangements.
The most popular doji patterns include:
-
Doji Star: Doji stars indicate indecision in the market with low activity. If it proceeds a gap higher or lower, it can signify a near-term reversal, but in most cases, it represents only the early signs of a reversal.
-
Long-legged Doji: Long-legged doji indicates indecision in the market with high activity. As with the doji star, the pattern works best when it follows a strong directional move, but it usually only represents the early signs of a reversal.
-
Dragonfly Doji: Dragonfly doji appear like the letter “T” and is most reliable when it appears after a significant downtrend. After opening lower, the doji signals that bulls regained control over the price and will likely remain in control of the following session.
-
Gravestone Doji: Gravestone doji appear like an inverse letter “T” and is most reliable when it appears after a significant uptrend. After opening higher, bulls lose control over the price and bears take over throughout the session.
When trading in these patterns, it’s important to take the previous trend and volume into consideration. The most reliable trading signals are generated following a strong previous trend with higher than average volume during the doji session. It’s also a good idea to consider other forms of technical analysis as confirmation, such as trend line support or resistance levels.
Examples of Doji Patterns in Action
Let’s take a look at an example of a dragonfly doji in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
In this example, the dragonfly doji is immediately followed by a sharp increase in price as the bulls take over control of the price from the bears. The strong volume just before and on the doji pattern provides a strong signal that a directional move is about to occur. When zooming in, the breakout also occurs from a key trend line resistance level, which further confirms that a bullish move higher is likely to occur.
The Bottom Line
Doji candlestick patterns indicate indecision in the market. Depending on the length of the shadow and other factors, the indecision can translate to an imminent reversal in price or a mere suggestion that a reversal will eventually occur. The key is to look at the prior trend and volume for context, as well as using doji candlestick patterns in conjunction with other forms of technical analysis that can serve as confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I trade every doji pattern I see?
No. Doji patterns are most significant after extended trends and at key support/resistance levels. A doji in the middle of a trading range or during low-volume periods carries much less significance. Always wait for confirmation—the next candle’s direction—before entering a trade.
What’s the difference between a dragonfly and gravestone doji?
The dragonfly doji has a long lower shadow with the open/close near the high (shaped like a “T”), suggesting buyers pushed prices up from lows—bullish after downtrends. The gravestone doji has a long upper shadow with open/close near the low (inverted “T”), suggesting sellers pushed prices down from highs—bearish after uptrends.
How do I confirm a doji signal before trading?
Wait for the next candlestick to confirm direction. For a bullish doji, look for a strong green candle closing above the doji’s high. Also check for supporting evidence: increasing volume, proximity to support levels, RSI oversold readings, or bullish divergence on momentum indicators.