Market structure

Fair Value Gap (FVG)

A trading term for a price area where the market moved quickly with relatively little two-way trading.

What does Fair Value Gap (FVG) mean?

A Fair Value Gap, or FVG, is a market-structure term used for a fast directional movement where adjacent candles show relatively little overlap. Traders often mark the area as a reference if price later revisits it.

Why it matters

  • The area highlights a portion of the chart where price moved rapidly.
  • It can help organize pullback or continuation context.
  • Its significance depends heavily on the surrounding trend and market structure.

How it works

  1. 01

    A directional impulse creates a visible imbalance across a small candle sequence.

  2. 02

    The area is marked as a zone rather than a guaranteed future target.

  3. 03

    If price revisits the zone, traders observe whether the original structure remains valid.

Example

After a strong upside impulse breaks a range, an imbalance remains below current price. A later pullback into that area may be studied together with the original breakout structure.

Common misunderstandings

  • Not every FVG must be filled.
  • An FVG is not automatically an entry signal.
  • Small imbalances appear frequently and are not all equally meaningful.
Educational reference This glossary explains terminology and general market concepts. It is not a trading signal or a guarantee of future results.