Technical analysis is the attempt to forecast stock prices based on historical market data such as price, volume, and other indicators. Technicians look for trends and patterns that may indicate future price movements. They analyze charts like bar charts, candlestick charts, and point and figure charts to identify patterns. Common patterns include head and shoulders, triangles, and rounded tops/bottoms. Technicians also use indicators like MACD, RSI, and Bollinger Bands to generate buy and sell signals. The goal is to time entries and exits to generate above-market returns, though perfect timing is difficult to achieve in practice.