GlossaryIntermediate
Crossover
When one line on a chart moves from one side of another line to the other.
A crossover occurs when one plotted line — commonly a moving average or an oscillator's own signal line — moves from below to above (or above to below) another reference line. It's one of the most common signal types across technical indicators, since it marks a specific, objectively identifiable moment rather than a vague shift in trend.
Crossovers appear throughout technical analysis in different forms: a moving average crossing another moving average, an oscillator crossing its own signal line, or a line crossing a fixed level like zero. Each carries a different meaning depending on which indicator and which lines are involved.
Examples
- A 50-period moving average crossing above a 200-period moving average is a widely referenced bullish crossover sometimes called a "golden cross."
- MACD's line crossing above its own signal line is a commonly watched momentum crossover.