Question 1

Why do indicators lag price?

Accepted Answer

Most indicators are built from past bars, so they need finished data before they can update. A moving average, for example, only turns after price has already turned. The smoother a tool is, the more lag it usually carries, because it leans on more old data.

Question 2

What does it mean when an indicator repaints?

Accepted Answer

Repainting is when an indicator changes its past signals after the fact, so the chart looks cleaner in hindsight than it did live. It happens when the calculation uses data that was not final when the signal first appeared. A repainting tool can make a strategy look far better than it really was.

Question 3

Is it better to use more indicators?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Most popular indicators are built from the same price and volume, so stacking many of them tends to repeat the same information rather than add new insight. Several tools agreeing can feel like confirmation when it is really one signal echoing back at you.