If you're wondering what volume means in practice — it's one of the most reliable tools for reading the market. I'm talking about the number of shares, currencies, or contracts that were actually traded during a given period. This isn't an abstraction — it's a concrete signal of what's really happening in the market.

What is it useful for? Primarily, to distinguish real movement from noise. When the price rises along with high volume, it looks solid — it indicates that genuine interest is behind the move. But if the price goes up and volume drops? That's a warning. The trend may be weak and could break soon.

It's worth watching what happens at key support and resistance levels. High volume at these points tells you a lot — it shows where the market is truly pausing or where it has the strength to break through. It's like reading the signature behind the price movement.

Sudden spikes in volume are also interesting. When significantly more transactions suddenly appear, something is usually changing — it could be the start of a new trend, a change in direction, or simply the market reacting to some new information. That's a moment I pay attention to.

Divergences between price and volume are another aspect I monitor. If the price keeps rising but fewer and fewer traders are involved, it's a signal that something is wrong. The trend is losing momentum, even if the numbers on the chart haven't yet shown it.

On charts, volume appears in various forms — histogram, profile, accumulation or distribution indicators. Each offers a different perspective on the same phenomenon. It's worth experimenting to find what works best for you.

Just remember, what volume means depends on the context. It's always relative — you need to compare it with the past, observe volume trends, and not look at the numbers in isolation. Combine this with other technical tools and don't rely solely on one indicator. That's the way to make better decisions in the market.