Delta, cumulative delta and its divergence

Delta is a single number that summarises the whole candle: it is the net of aggressive buying minus aggressive selling. If buyers dominate, delta is positive, and if sellers dominate it is negative. It is a quick compass that tells you who settled the period.

Cumulative delta

Cumulative delta adds the delta of consecutive candles into a single line across the session, revealing the accumulated pressure: are buyers still pushing? or is momentum fading despite price rising? When delta is near zero, that is a balance between the two sides — and it often precedes a turn.