MQL4 and MQL5 Programming Articles

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Study the MQL5 language for programming trading strategies in numerous published articles mostly written by you - the community members. The articles are grouped into categories to help you quicker find answers to any questions related to programming: Integration, Tester, Trading Strategies, etc.

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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 8): A conceptual leap

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 8): A conceptual leap

What is the easiest way to implement new functionality? In this article, we will take one step back and then two steps forward.
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Dream Optimization Algorithm (DOA)

Dream Optimization Algorithm (DOA)

A population-based optimization algorithm inspired by a controversial and little-studied phenomenon - the mechanism of human dreams. Agent groups with different "memory", cosine-wave modulation of motion, and an unusual 99/1 phase distribution — learn how these features affect the optimization efficiency of your trading strategies.
Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 44): Collection class of indicator buffer objects
Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 44): Collection class of indicator buffer objects

Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 44): Collection class of indicator buffer objects

The article deals with creating a collection class of indicator buffer objects. I am going to test the ability to create and work with any number of buffers for indicators (the maximum number of buffers that can be created in MQL indicators is 512).
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Trend strength and direction indicator on 3D bars

Trend strength and direction indicator on 3D bars

We will consider a new approach to market trend analysis based on three-dimensional visualization and tensor analysis of the market microstructure.
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MetaTrader 5 and the MQL5 Economic Calendar: How to Turn News into a Reproducible Trading System

MetaTrader 5 and the MQL5 Economic Calendar: How to Turn News into a Reproducible Trading System

The article presents a systematic approach to news trading in MetaTrader 5 using the built-in economic calendar: data structure, API functions, time synchronization rules, and event filtering. Methods of caching and incremental updating without overloading the server are described. The article also provides a working mechanism for exporting history to an .EX5 resource for deterministic testing using the same algorithm.
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Parafrac Oscillator: Combination of Parabolic and Fractal Indicator

Parafrac Oscillator: Combination of Parabolic and Fractal Indicator

We will explore how the Parabolic SAR and the Fractal indicator can be combined to create a new oscillator-based indicator. By integrating the unique strengths of both tools, traders can aim at developing a more refined and effective trading strategy.
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How to create a custom True Strength Index indicator using MQL5

How to create a custom True Strength Index indicator using MQL5

Here is a new article about how to create a custom indicator. This time we will work with the True Strength Index (TSI) and will create an Expert Advisor based on it.
Fractal Analysis of Joint Currency Movements
Fractal Analysis of Joint Currency Movements

Fractal Analysis of Joint Currency Movements

How independent are currency quotes? Are their movements coordinated or does the movement of one currency suggest nothing of the movement of another? The article describes an effort to tackle this issue using nonlinear dynamics and fractal geometry methods.
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Hidden Markov Models for Trend-Following Volatility Prediction

Hidden Markov Models for Trend-Following Volatility Prediction

Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are powerful statistical tools that identify underlying market states by analyzing observable price movements. In trading, HMMs enhance volatility prediction and inform trend-following strategies by modeling and anticipating shifts in market regimes. In this article, we will present the complete procedure for developing a trend-following strategy that utilizes HMMs to predict volatility as a filter.
Tales of Trading Robots: Is Less More?
Tales of Trading Robots: Is Less More?

Tales of Trading Robots: Is Less More?

Two years ago in "The Last Crusade" we reviewed quite an interesting yet currently not widely used method for displaying market information - point and figure charts. Now I suggest you try to write a trading robot based on the patterns detected on the point and figure chart.
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Creating a Dynamic Multi-Symbol, Multi-Period Relative Strength Indicator (RSI) Indicator Dashboard in MQL5

Creating a Dynamic Multi-Symbol, Multi-Period Relative Strength Indicator (RSI) Indicator Dashboard in MQL5

In this article, we develop a dynamic multi-symbol, multi-period RSI indicator dashboard in MQL5, providing traders real-time RSI values across various symbols and timeframes. The dashboard features interactive buttons, real-time updates, and color-coded indicators to help traders make informed decisions.
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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 29): The talking platform

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 29): The talking platform

In this article, we will learn how to make the MetaTrader 5 platform talk. What if we make the EA more fun? Financial market trading is often too boring and monotonous, but we can make this job less tiring. Please note that this project can be dangerous for those who experience problems such as addiction. However, in a general case, it just makes things less boring.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 8): Beginner's Guide to Building Expert Advisors (II)

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 8): Beginner's Guide to Building Expert Advisors (II)

This article addresses common beginner questions from MQL5 forums and demonstrates practical solutions. Learn to perform essential tasks like buying and selling, obtaining candlestick prices, and managing automated trading aspects such as trade limits, trading periods, and profit/loss thresholds. Get step-by-step guidance to enhance your understanding and implementation of these concepts in MQL5.
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Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 97): Independent handling of form object movement

Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 97): Independent handling of form object movement

In this article, I will consider the implementation of the independent dragging of any form objects using a mouse. Besides, I will complement the library by error messages and new deal properties previously implemented into the terminal and MQL5.
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MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 19): Building an Interactive Tools Palette for Chart Drawing

MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 19): Building an Interactive Tools Palette for Chart Drawing

In this article, we build an interactive tools palette in MQL5 for chart drawing, with draggable, resizable panels and theme switching. We add buttons for tools like crosshair, trendlines, lines, rectangles, Fibonacci, text, and arrows, handling mouse events for activation and instructions. This system improves trading analysis through a customizable UI, supporting real-time interactions on charts
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Larry Williams Market Secrets (Part 14): Detecting Hidden Smash Day Reversals with a Custom Indicator

Larry Williams Market Secrets (Part 14): Detecting Hidden Smash Day Reversals with a Custom Indicator

This article develops a practical MQL5 indicator that identifies Hidden Smash Day bars by strict numeric criteria and optional confirmation on the following session. We cover detection routines, buffer registration, and plot configuration to place arrows at valid bars. The approach delivers stable, non-repainting signals for historical testing and real-time monitoring.
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Modified Grid-Hedge EA in MQL5 (Part IV): Optimizing Simple Grid Strategy (I)

Modified Grid-Hedge EA in MQL5 (Part IV): Optimizing Simple Grid Strategy (I)

In this fourth part, we revisit the Simple Hedge and Simple Grid Expert Advisors (EAs) developed earlier. Our focus shifts to refining the Simple Grid EA through mathematical analysis and a brute force approach, aiming for optimal strategy usage. This article delves deep into the mathematical optimization of the strategy, setting the stage for future exploration of coding-based optimization in later installments.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 25): Building an EA that Trades with Chart Objects (II)

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 25): Building an EA that Trades with Chart Objects (II)

This article explains how to build an Expert Advisor (EA) that interacts with chart objects, particularly trend lines, to identify and trade breakout and reversal opportunities. You will learn how the EA confirms valid signals, manages trade frequency, and maintains consistency with user-selected strategies.
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Dynamic Swing Architecture: Market Structure Recognition from Swings to Automated Execution

Dynamic Swing Architecture: Market Structure Recognition from Swings to Automated Execution

This article introduces a fully automated MQL5 system designed to identify and trade market swings with precision. Unlike traditional fixed-bar swing indicators, this system adapts dynamically to evolving price structure—detecting swing highs and swing lows in real time to capture directional opportunities as they form.
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Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 10): External Flow (II) VWAP

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 10): External Flow (II) VWAP

Master the power of VWAP with our comprehensive guide! Learn how to integrate VWAP analysis into your trading strategy using MQL5 and Python. Maximize your market insights and improve your trading decisions today.
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Larry Williams Market Secrets (Part 6): Measuring Volatility Breakouts Using Market Swings

Larry Williams Market Secrets (Part 6): Measuring Volatility Breakouts Using Market Swings

This article demonstrates how to design and implement a Larry Williams volatility breakout Expert Advisor in MQL5, covering swing-range measurement, entry-level projection, risk-based position sizing, and backtesting on real market data.
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Ready-made templates for including indicators to Expert Advisors (Part 2): Volume and Bill Williams indicators

Ready-made templates for including indicators to Expert Advisors (Part 2): Volume and Bill Williams indicators

In this article, we will look at standard indicators of the Volume and Bill Williams' indicators category. We will create ready-to-use templates for indicator use in EAs - declaring and setting parameters, indicator initialization and deinitialization, as well as receiving data and signals from indicator buffers in EAs.
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Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 66): Developing a Structured Head and Shoulders Scanner in MQL5

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 66): Developing a Structured Head and Shoulders Scanner in MQL5

Head and Shoulders patterns are difficult to identify consistently in live market data due to noise and structural ambiguity. This article presents a structured, triangle-based MQL5 indicator that isolates pattern components, constructs the neckline, and validates formations using ATR, symmetry, and slope constraints. The system detects and draws standard and inverse patterns, assigns a quality score, and confirms breakouts with optional alerts, enabling consistent and rule-based chart analysis.
Non-standard Automated Trading
Non-standard Automated Trading

Non-standard Automated Trading

Successful and comfortable trading using MT4 platform without detailed market analysis - is it possible? Can such trading be implemented in practice? I suppose, yes. Especially in terms of the automated trading!
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Neural networks made easy (Part 19): Association rules using MQL5

Neural networks made easy (Part 19): Association rules using MQL5

We continue considering association rules. In the previous article, we have discussed theoretical aspect of this type of problem. In this article, I will show the implementation of the FP Growth method using MQL5. We will also test the implemented solution using real data.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 24): Improving the tool for Transfer Learning

Neural networks made easy (Part 24): Improving the tool for Transfer Learning

In the previous article, we created a tool for creating and editing the architecture of neural networks. Today we will continue working on this tool. We will try to make it more user friendly. This may see, top be a step away form our topic. But don't you think that a well organized workspace plays an important role in achieving the result.
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USD and EUR index charts — example of a MetaTrader 5 service

USD and EUR index charts — example of a MetaTrader 5 service

We will consider the creation and updating of USD index (USDX) and EUR index (EURX) charts using a MetaTrader 5 service as an example. When launching the service, we will check for the presence of the required synthetic instrument, create it if necessary, and place it in the Market Watch window. The minute and tick history of the synthetic instrument is to be created afterwards followed by the chart of the created instrument.
Trader's Kit: Drag Trade Library
Trader's Kit: Drag Trade Library

Trader's Kit: Drag Trade Library

The article describes Drag Trade Library that provides functionality for visual trading. The library can easily be integrated into virtually any Expert Advisor. Your Expert Advisor can be transformed from an automat into an automated trading and information system almost effortless on your side by just adding a few lines of code.
Sending Trading Signals in a Universal Expert Advisor
Sending Trading Signals in a Universal Expert Advisor

Sending Trading Signals in a Universal Expert Advisor

The article describes different ways of sending trading signals from a signal program unit of a universal Expert Advisor into the positions and orders controlling unit. It dwells on serial and parallel interfaces.
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Graph Theory: Dijkstra's Algorithm Applied in Trading

Graph Theory: Dijkstra's Algorithm Applied in Trading

Dijkstra's algorithm, a classic shortest-path solution in graph theory, can optimize trading strategies by modeling market networks. Traders can use it to find the most efficient routes in the candlestick chart data.
Prices in DoEasy library (part 59): Object to store data of one tick
Prices in DoEasy library (part 59): Object to store data of one tick

Prices in DoEasy library (part 59): Object to store data of one tick

From this article on, start creating library functionality to work with price data. Today, create an object class which will store all price data which arrived with yet another tick.
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Building a Trading System (Part 3): Determining Minimum Risk Levels for Realistic Profit Targets

Building a Trading System (Part 3): Determining Minimum Risk Levels for Realistic Profit Targets

Every trader's ultimate goal is profitability, which is why many set specific profit targets to achieve within a defined trading period. In this article, we will use Monte Carlo simulations to determine the optimal risk percentage per trade needed to meet trading objectives. The results will help traders assess whether their profit targets are realistic or overly ambitious. Finally, we will discuss which parameters can be adjusted to establish a practical risk percentage per trade that aligns with trading goals.
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How to build and optimize a volume-based trading system (Chaikin Money Flow - CMF)

How to build and optimize a volume-based trading system (Chaikin Money Flow - CMF)

In this article, we will provide a volume-based indicator, Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) after identifying how it can be constructed, calculated, and used. We will understand how to build a custom indicator. We will share some simple strategies that can be used and then test them to understand which one is better.
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Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 05): Turning MetaTrader 5 into a RAD system (I)

Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 05): Turning MetaTrader 5 into a RAD system (I)

There are a lot of people who do not know how to program but they are quite creative and have great ideas. However, the lack of programming knowledge prevents them from implementing these ideas. Let's see together how to create a Chart Trade using the MetaTrader 5 platform itself, as if it were an IDE.
Testing Visualization: Trade History
Testing Visualization: Trade History

Testing Visualization: Trade History

The article describes the possibilities of convenient viewing the trade history when visualizing tests. Starting from build 196, MetaTrader 4 Client Terminal offers testing visualization function. It allows controlling the Expert Advisors' testing on a brand new level. Now, the trading programmer can watch every action of his or her Expert Advisor checking its operation on history!
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Neural Networks in Trading: A Multi-Agent System with Conceptual Reinforcement (FinCon)

Neural Networks in Trading: A Multi-Agent System with Conceptual Reinforcement (FinCon)

We invite you to explore the FinCon framework, which is a a Large Language Model (LLM)-based multi-agent system. The framework uses conceptual verbal reinforcement to improve decision making and risk management, enabling effective performance on a variety of financial tasks.
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DRAKON visual programming language — communication tool for MQL developers and customers

DRAKON visual programming language — communication tool for MQL developers and customers

DRAKON is a visual programming language designed to simplify interaction between specialists from different fields (biologists, physicists, engineers...) with programmers in Russian space projects (for example, in the Buran reusable spacecraft project). In this article, I will talk about how DRAKON makes the creation of algorithms accessible and intuitive, even if you have never encountered code, and also how it is easier for customers to explain their thoughts when ordering trading robots, and for programmers to make fewer mistakes in complex functions.
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Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 05): Manual triggers (II)

Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 05): Manual triggers (II)

Today we'll see how to create an Expert Advisor that simply and safely works in automatic mode. At the end of the previous article, I suggested that it would be appropriate to allow manual use of the EA, at least for a while.
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Trading with the MQL5 Economic Calendar (Part 2): Creating a News Dashboard Panel

Trading with the MQL5 Economic Calendar (Part 2): Creating a News Dashboard Panel

In this article, we create a practical news dashboard panel using the MQL5 Economic Calendar to enhance our trading strategy. We begin by designing the layout, focusing on key elements like event names, importance, and timing, before moving into the setup within MQL5. Finally, we implement a filtering system to display only the most relevant news, giving traders quick access to impactful economic events.
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Population optimization algorithms: Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO)

Population optimization algorithms: Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO)

Let's consider one of the newest modern optimization algorithms - Grey Wolf Optimization. The original behavior on test functions makes this algorithm one of the most interesting among the ones considered earlier. This is one of the top algorithms for use in training neural networks, smooth functions with many variables.