An Inside Bar forms when the entire price range of a candle remains within the high and low of the previous candle, known as the mother candle. It represents a period of temporary contraction or consolidation where price movement becomes restricted. The market is effectively pausing after a previous move while buyers and sellers reach a temporary balance. An Inside Bar can occur during both bullish and bearish trends. When price subsequently breaks above the mother candle's high, it can indicate bullish continuation or a potential upside expansion. A break below the mother candle's low can indicate bearish continuation or downside expansion. The pattern becomes more meaningful when it appears after a strong directional move or near an important support/resistance zone. Traders should also watch volume and the strength of the breakout. A false breakout occurs when price briefly moves outside the range but quickly returns inside. Therefore, the Inside Bar itself represents compression, while the subsequent breakout provides the directional information.