Ichimoku Cloud is a complex indicator that consists of a few components that serve different functions, such as generating buy and sell signals, overbought and oversold conditions, and market momentum.

The key components of the Ichimoku Cloud indicator are:

• Base Line: This is the mid-point of the last 26 price bars and is often used to identify the overall trend. If the current price is above the Kijun-Sen, it suggests a bullish trend, and if below, a bearish trend
• Conversion Line: This is the mid-point of the last 9 price bars and is used to indicate short-term momentum. A cross of the Tenkan-Sen above the Kijun-Sen can be a bullish signal, while a cross below can be bearish
• Leading Span A: It represents the average of the Conversion Line and Base Line plotted 26 periods ahead. The area between Leading Span A and Leading Span B forms the "cloud”. Leading Span A and Leading Span B together can act as support or resistance levels
• Leading Span B: It represents the mid-point of the 52-week high and low prices and is also plotted 26 periods ahead. It helps in confirming the overall trend direction
• Cloud: The space or area between Leading Span A and Leading Span B. The cloud changes color based on the relationship between Leading Span A and Leading Span B. When Leading Span A is above Leading Span B, the cloud is bullish (green), and when it's below, the cloud is bearish (red). The thickness of the cloud can indicate the strength of the support or resistance
• Lagging Span: This is the current closing price plotted 26 periods back. It is used to show potential support or resistance levels and to confirm the overall trend

Traders use various signals and patterns derived from these components to make trading decisions.

For example, a bullish signal is generated when the price is above the cloud, the Conversion Line is above the Base Line, and the Lagging Span is above the price.

Conversely, a bearish signal is generated when the opposite conditions are met. Traders also look for crossovers, breaks of support or resistance within the cloud, and other patterns to 

identify potential entry and exit points.

Ichimoku Cloud Example - Apple Stock

To better understand how the Ichimoku Cloud works in practice, let’s look at the indicator plotted on the price chart of Apple Inc stock:

By observing the placements of the individual components of the Ichimoku indicator, we can see how bearish and bullish trends alternate on the price chart. 

The long blue shaded cloud starts when the red cloud tightens and the trend reverses. At this point, the conversion line is above the base line, and the price is climbing above the cloud. 

When the gap tightens, the trend is likely to reverse, and vice versa. 

The indicator is often used in day-trading, as the alternating cloud can give traders a good indication of price action. 

While the Ichimoku Cloud is a popular and commonly used technical indicator, it comes with a certain set of limitations, which is why many traders use it in conjunction with other indicators.

Some important limitations to consider when using the Ichimoku Cloud include:

• Complexity: The Ichimoku Cloud system is relatively complex compared to some other technical indicators. This complexity can be overwhelming for beginners, and it may take time to fully understand and apply the various components of the system effectively
• Whipsaws: Like many trend-following indicators, the Ichimoku Cloud can produce whipsaws during sideways or choppy market conditions. False signals may occur, leading to losses for traders who rely solely on Ichimoku Cloud signals without considering the broader market context
• Overfitting and Optimization: Traders may be tempted to optimize the parameters of the Ichimoku Cloud to fit historical data perfectly. However, over-optimization can lead to a strategy that performs poorly on new, unseen data. It's essential to balance the need for historical performance with the need for robustness in changing market conditions
• Time Lag: Some traders argue that the Ichimoku Cloud, like other lagging indicators, may not provide timely signals for entering or exiting trades. By design, certain components, such as the Lagging Span, rely on historical prices, which means they may not react quickly to sudden market changes

• The Ichimoku Cloud is a complex technical indicator that is used by traders to generated buy and sell signals and indicate overbought and oversold conditions
• The indicator consists of a basel line, a conversion line, two leading spans, and a lagging span, which are shaded by the cloud
• When the conversion line is above the base line, the price is above the cloud, and the lagging span is above the price, a bullish signal is generated
• The complexity of the Ichimoku Cloud can make it more reliable, but can also make the indicator over complicated for some traders