Why Context Comes Before Confirmation
The same order flow signal can mean different things at different locations.
Imagine seeing aggressive buying on a footprint chart.
If it appears during a confirmed breakout with continued upward progress, it may support a continuation idea.
If it appears at a major resistance level and price refuses to advance, the same buying activity may deserve a different interpretation.
The numbers haven't necessarily changed in meaning. Their context has changed.
That's why I prefer this sequence:
Identify the market environment.
Mark the relevant price level.
Observe the order flow.
Wait for the required confirmation.
Define the risk before entry.
A signal without context is incomplete information.