On the technical analysis chart a break out occurs when price of a stock or commodity exits an area pattern.
Oftentimes, a stock or commodity will bounce between the areas of support and resistance and when it breaks through either one of these barriers you can consider the direction that it's heading in a trend.
Any market favoured by technical traders can see breakouts - including commodities and forex.
Traders and active investors use breakouts to identify trends in their early stages.
They are often followed by price action and renewed volatility, making them a fertile area to find profitable opportunities.