Definition
A trading journal is a structured record of decisions, market context, intended rules, execution details, outcomes, and later process review.
In market context
Useful entries capture the thesis, evidence, size, order choice, planned invalidation, emotional state, and contemporaneous screenshots before the outcome is known. Review should separate process quality from profit, because a disciplined trade can lose and a poor decision can profit by chance. Fixed fields and preserved failures reduce hindsight storytelling, while aggregated records can reveal recurring costs and rule breaches.
Source
Use the primary source for fuller regulatory or market context.
