Articles with examples of indicators developed in MQL5

icon

The articles contain detailed explanation of the attached codes. Download and open them in MetaEditor and program together with the author while reading the article.

Add a new article
latest | best
preview
Building a Modular Fair Value Gap (FVG) Detection Engine in MQL5

Building a Modular Fair Value Gap (FVG) Detection Engine in MQL5

This article introduces a modular Fair Value Gap (FVG) detection engine for MQL5 packaged as a reusable include class, it evaluates imbalance zones on closed bars, applies a Simple True Range average filter to eliminate low-volatility noise, and supports wick-touch and close-through mitigation. A companion diagnostic indicator plots active gaps, and an Expert Advisor template demonstrates automated pullback entries with new-bar execution controls.
preview
Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 1): Robust Foundation

Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 1): Robust Foundation

This article builds the foundation layer of a twelve-part MQL5 market microstructure toolkit. It implements guarded math helpers (SafeDivide, SafeLog, SafeSqrt, SafeExp, SafeTanh), robust data validation (ValidateSymbolV2, SafeCopyClose), trimmed statistical estimators (robust mean var), a linear regression slope, shared structs, and an FFT. You compile a single include file that hardens indicators and expert advisors against silent numerical failures and standardizes data flow for later parts.
preview
The MQL5 Standard Library Explorer (Part 12): Multi-Timeframe Composite-Score Dashboard

The MQL5 Standard Library Explorer (Part 12): Multi-Timeframe Composite-Score Dashboard

The article implements CMultiTimeframeMatrix, a reusable dashboard that maps symbols vs. timeframes and displays a numeric, colour‑coded score. The score combines trend, momentum, and volatility, updates by timer, and respects performance constraints. You will learn how to build the UI with CAppDialog/CLabel, compute metrics via CMatrixDouble, and embed the component into a thin EA for a consistent, real-time overview.
preview
Engineering Trading Discipline into Code (Part 4): Enforcing Trading Hours and News Disabling in MQL5

Engineering Trading Discipline into Code (Part 4): Enforcing Trading Hours and News Disabling in MQL5

An MQL5 control system that blocks orders outside scheduled trading hours and during scheduled news releases, converting time rules into executable restrictions. It combines a permissions management mechanism, a transaction-level expert advisor, and a visual dashboard for real-time status and upcoming restrictions. Configuration is accomplished using editable files, with caching and a CSV audit log for traceability.
preview
The Avellaneda-Stoikov Model: Inventory-Aware Quoting for Two-Sided Strategies

The Avellaneda-Stoikov Model: Inventory-Aware Quoting for Two-Sided Strategies

This article builds the Avellaneda–Stoikov formulas in MQL5, feeds them with rolling estimates of mid-price volatility and a proxy for order-flow intensity, and plots the reservation price with bid and ask in real time. A bar-by-bar simulation contrasts adaptive and fixed quoting under the same fill rules. The result is a tested class, an indicator, and a backtest to improve inventory control in two‑sided strategies.
preview
Analyzing Price Time Gaps in MQL5 (Part II): Creating a Heat Map of Liquidity Distribution Over Time

Analyzing Price Time Gaps in MQL5 (Part II): Creating a Heat Map of Liquidity Distribution Over Time

A detailed guide on how to create a heat map indicator for MetaTrader 5 that visualizes the price distribution over time. The article reveals the mathematical basis of time density analysis, where each price level is colored from red (minimum stay time) to blue (maximum stay time).
preview
The Mathematics of Volatility: Why the GRI Indicator Deserves to Return to Your Trading Terminal

The Mathematics of Volatility: Why the GRI Indicator Deserves to Return to Your Trading Terminal

The article focuses on the Gopalakrishnan Range Index (GRI/ROCI), which quantitatively assesses the market's "degree of chaos" using the logarithm of the closing price range over a given period. The article shows how to implement GRI in MetaTrader 5, resolve the issue of negative values using a shifted logarithm, and convert the scale to convenient "points" by normalizing it by Point. Next, we examine practical scenarios for using GRI as a filter for volatility and market phases.
preview
Engineering Trading Discipline into Code (Part 6): Building a Unified Discipline Framework in MQL5

Engineering Trading Discipline into Code (Part 6): Building a Unified Discipline Framework in MQL5

The article introduces a unified MQL5 discipline framework that consolidates the symbol whitelist, trading‑hours and news filters, and daily trade‑limit modules under CDisciplineEngine.mqh. It explains centralized trade validation and state synchronization shared by a chart dashboard and an enforcement Expert Advisor. Readers learn how to authorize orders through a single gate, monitor permissions in real time, and automatically enforce rules across the terminal.
preview
GoertzelBrain: Adaptive Spectral Cycle Detection with Neural Network Ensemble in MQL5

GoertzelBrain: Adaptive Spectral Cycle Detection with Neural Network Ensemble in MQL5

GoertzelBrain combines Goertzel spectral analysis with an online‑trained neural network ensemble to convert cycle features into a directional confirmation signal. The indicator builds a compact feature vector from the dominant period, amplitude, confidence and their dynamics, plus local volatility, and outputs +1, −1 or 0. The article provides the full MQL5 implementation, explains the architecture and feature engineering, and shows how to use it as a directional filter.
preview
How to Train an MLP Using Markov Chain Features in MQL5

How to Train an MLP Using Markov Chain Features in MQL5

The article describes the two-level MarkovMLPOscillator indicator: a three-state Markov chain uses historical data to construct a transition matrix and generate 15 probabilistic features for each bar, and an MLP is trained on these features to predict price direction at a specified forecast horizon. The article covers feature generation, the validation procedure using a holdout set, and parameter settings. The result is an interpretable oscillator with a color histogram, a smoothed signal, and a display of the current transition matrix.
preview
Eigenvectors and eigenvalues: Exploratory data analysis in MetaTrader 5

Eigenvectors and eigenvalues: Exploratory data analysis in MetaTrader 5

In this article we explore different ways in which the eigenvectors and eigenvalues can be applied in exploratory data analysis to reveal unique relationships in data.
preview
Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 71): Weekend Gap Structure Mapping in MQL5

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 71): Weekend Gap Structure Mapping in MQL5

The article delivers an object-based MQL5 implementation that detects weekend gaps from time discontinuities and renders them directly on the chart. It manages graphical objects, tracks state transitions (fresh, partial, reaction, filled), and preserves completed gaps as historical zones. The result is a reproducible framework for monitoring how price revisits and fills weekend gap structures.
preview
Seasonality Indicator by Hours, Days of the Week, and Days of the Month

Seasonality Indicator by Hours, Days of the Week, and Days of the Month

The article explains how to develop a tool for analyzing recurring price patterns in financial markets — by day of the month (1-31), day of the week (Monday-Sunday), or hour of the day (0-23). The indicator analyzes historical data, calculates the average return for each period, and displays the results as a histogram with a forecast. It includes customizable parameters: seasonality type, number of bars analyzed, display as percentages or absolute values, chart colors.
preview
Building an Object-Oriented Session VWAP Engine in MQL5

Building an Object-Oriented Session VWAP Engine in MQL5

This article shows how to implement a session vwap in MQL5 as a reusable include class with a strict daily reset at broker midnight. The engine computes VWAP and volume‑weighted deviation bands only on closed bars and anchors accumulation with MqlDateTime to avoid distortions from missing candles. A companion indicator plots the baseline and bands, while an Expert Advisor reads signals once per bar for consistent, CPU‑efficient execution and reliable testing.
preview
MQL5 Custom Symbols: Creating a 3D Bars Symbol

MQL5 Custom Symbols: Creating a 3D Bars Symbol

The article provides a detailed guide to creating the innovative 3DBarCustomSymbol.mq5 indicator, which generates custom symbols in MetaTrader 5 that combine price, time, volume, and volatility into a single three-dimensional representation. The mathematical foundations, system architecture, practical aspects of implementation and application in trading strategies are considered.
preview
Building a Future Swing Projection Indicator in MQL5

Building a Future Swing Projection Indicator in MQL5

We implement a Future Swing Projection indicator in MQL5 that analyzes historical swing structure and estimates the next move from recent price behavior. It locates six alternating swing points, measures five completed legs, and uses their average distance to project a target five bars ahead. The indicator draws swing legs, a projection line, ATR‑based support and resistance zones, and a label with the projected price to keep the process rule‑based and reproducible.
preview
Forecasting a Conditional Distribution Using MLP

Forecasting a Conditional Distribution Using MLP

In this article, we will consider an MLP-based regression model that predicts not only the conditional expectation but also the conditional variance. In other words, we will train our network to predict the entire distribution of future prices based on the input feature vector. But for this purpose we will have to implement our own loss function.
preview
Master the Z-Score: Building Mean-Reverting MQL5 Trading Systems

Master the Z-Score: Building Mean-Reverting MQL5 Trading Systems

This article explains how to use the Z-Score to quantify price deviations in standard deviations and apply the concept in MQL5. We cover the calculation, interpretation across market regimes, and the implementation of a custom indicator and three trading strategies as Expert Advisors. Readers get complete code examples and a testing workflow, plus practical notes on lookback selection, fat tails, execution timing, and risk controls.
preview
Implementing Anchored VWAP Indicator in MQL5: A Step-by-Step Guide

Implementing Anchored VWAP Indicator in MQL5: A Step-by-Step Guide

A step-by-step guide to building an anchored VWAP indicator with an interactive draggable anchor line in MQL5. The article covers the complete implementation, including calculation methodology, session resets, standard deviation bands, and custom visualization. Learn the architectural design decisions behind stateless boundary detection, multi-instance support, and cross-asset volume handling to build a versatile indicator with benchmarking, technical, and analytical capabilities.
preview
Overcoming Accessibility Problems in MQL5 Trading Tools (Part IV): Remote voice trading

Overcoming Accessibility Problems in MQL5 Trading Tools (Part IV): Remote voice trading

Learn a practical way to execute MetaTrader 5 trades from Telegram voice notes using a Python middleware and an MQL5 EA acting as an HTTP client. The article covers architecture, WebRequest polling, in-memory queuing, JSON parsing with null-terminator stripping, and a constrained command grammar with a 0.001-lot default. You will configure the environment and validate round‑trip latency suitable for mobile data connections.
preview
Modular Indicator Architecture in MQL5 (Part 1): Stop Copy-Pasting and Start Writing Scalable, Reusable Code

Modular Indicator Architecture in MQL5 (Part 1): Stop Copy-Pasting and Start Writing Scalable, Reusable Code

This article develops an object-oriented framework for MQL5 indicators by evolving a primitive example into reusable modules. It formalizes partial buffer recalculation in OnCalculate, moves logic into header-based classes (CAppliedPrice, CSma), and introduces CSubIndiBase, CIndicatorBase, and a registry to centralize requirements. You get portable components, isolated inputs, and clean buffers with minimal boilerplate, making new indicators faster to assemble and easier to maintain.
preview
Machine Learning Without the Black Box: The Tsetlin Machine for Trading

Machine Learning Without the Black Box: The Tsetlin Machine for Trading

This article builds a white-box classifier in MQL5 using the Tsetlin Machine. It learns human-readable AND-rules instead of weights, trains with integer state updates, and requires no external dependencies. You will assemble the automaton, clause, and multi-class voter, verify on XOR and other boolean tasks, booleanize indicators, label by forward ATR-scaled return, save the model to CSV, and view active rules on a live chart.
preview
From Novice to Expert: Trading Multi-Symbol Basket

From Novice to Expert: Trading Multi-Symbol Basket

The article develops a multi-symbol basket EA that standardizes prices, derives PCA weights with native MQL5 matrices, forms a synthetic spread, and trades z-score deviations from a rolling mean. It validates symbols and synchronized history, stabilizes component orientation, maps signed weights to leg directions, and applies broker-aware volumes, stops, and netting rules. Basket entries run with rollback protection and chart status, with a reproducible testing procedure.
preview
Building an Adaptive Fibonacci Volatility Band Indicator in MQL5

Building an Adaptive Fibonacci Volatility Band Indicator in MQL5

We build an adaptive Fibonacci volatility band indicator in MQL5 that centers on a smoothed price (SMMA) and scales band width with a smoothed ATR. The article covers inputs, buffer mapping, ATR handling, and SMMA formulas, then projects configurable Fibonacci ratios with filled zones. Readers get a ready workflow for visualizing volatility expansion/contraction and outlining dynamic support and resistance.
preview
MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 40): Adding SQLite Persistence and Per-Timeframe Visibility to the Canvas Drawing Layer

MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 40): Adding SQLite Persistence and Per-Timeframe Visibility to the Canvas Drawing Layer

We add SQLite persistence to the canvas tools, saving every drawing and the entire UI session per symbol, then restoring them on startup so the workspace resumes exactly where you left it. The article builds versioned object serialization, a load/save lifecycle with dirty writes, and a timeframe-visibility editor that drives render-time filtering. The toolkit also runs as an indicator, so it can sit alongside other indicators or an Expert Advisor.
preview
Bimodal Market Profile with Delta and Memory in MQL5

Bimodal Market Profile with Delta and Memory in MQL5

The classic Market Profile from forty years ago is still replicated in dozens of indicators that differ only in the color of their bars. In this article, I examine three conceptual blind spots in the original theory — the monolithic Value Area in bimodal distributions, TPO’s blindness to the aggressor, and the lack of memory between sessions — and build an indicator that addresses each of them: bimodality detection with a dead zone, order flow via CopyTicksRange with absorption detection, and composite market memory using Naked POC and HVN/LVN. The complete source code is included.
preview
Building a Crosshair Volume Profile Indicator in MQL5

Building a Crosshair Volume Profile Indicator in MQL5

We implement an interactive Crosshair Volume Profile indicator in MQL5 for MetaTrader 5. Using a right-click-and-drag crosshair, you select a chart region; the indicator then builds adaptive price bins, accumulates tick or real volume, detects the POC, and renders the profile on the chart. You will practice OnChartEvent()-driven interaction, cursor-to-time/price mapping, and price-source models (Close, Median, Typical, Weighted, OHLC4) for on-demand volume analysis.
preview
Building a Swing-Based Volume Profile Indicator in MQL5

Building a Swing-Based Volume Profile Indicator in MQL5

This article presents a swing-based volume profile indicator in MQL5 that analyzes platform tick volume within completed high-to-low and low-to-high legs. It confirms swing points, partitions each leg's range into ATR(200)‑adaptive price bins, distributes tick volume, and marks the Point of Control. The indicator draws a ZigZag and renders the profile on chart rectangles, helping you study volume concentration within each swing relative to price structure.
preview
Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 79): Extending the Indicator Search Panel with Dynamic Input Parameter Configuration

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 79): Extending the Indicator Search Panel with Dynamic Input Parameter Configuration

We integrate parameter configuration into the indicator search workflow in MQL5. A central repository describes each indicator's inputs, a dynamic dialog renders controls from those definitions, and the dialog validates entries and converts them to MqlParam. The chart launcher then creates the indicator with IndicatorCreate using the provided values. This streamlines attaching indicators with custom settings on the chosen symbol.
preview
Shape of Price: An Introduction to TDA and Takens Embedding in MQL5

Shape of Price: An Introduction to TDA and Takens Embedding in MQL5

The article presents a practical foundation for shape analysis of price series in MQL5. It implements Takens time‑delay embedding to build a phase‑space point cloud and computes the full pairwise distance matrix under selectable norms. The CTDAPointCloud and CTDADistance classes are provided with a demo script that embeds chart data and outputs results, preparing inputs for downstream topological tools.
preview
Mapping the Shape of Price: The Mapper Lens and Cover in MQL5

Mapping the Shape of Price: The Mapper Lens and Cover in MQL5

The article introduces the Mapper pipeline in MQL5 by implementing the two fundamental components: CTDAMapperFilter (lens) and CTDAMapperCover (overlapping intervals). It explains three lens options—eccentricity, density, and coordinate—plus cover parameters (resolution and gain), and demonstrates how a price point cloud is reduced to one value per point and interval memberships. Readers obtain ready inputs for subsequent clustering and graph construction.
preview
Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 3): Estimating ARFIMA d with GPH

Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 3): Estimating ARFIMA d with GPH

A GPH‑based estimator for d, the key ARFIMA parameter, is added to MicroStructure_Foundation.mqh. GPHEstimator() computes d via log‑periodogram regression, while PopulateARFIMAAnalysis() stores d with an R² confidence score and validates the theoretical relationship H = d + 0.5. An empirical study on 72 US100 M1 sessions confirms pooled d = −0.006, consistent with the random walk boundary established in Part 2.
preview
Larry Williams Market Secrets (Part 17) : Detecting Oops Signals Using a Custom Indicator

Larry Williams Market Secrets (Part 17) : Detecting Oops Signals Using a Custom Indicator

This article implements an MQL5 custom indicator that detects Larry Williams Oops gap reversals and marks bullish and bearish arrows on the chart. It details configurable gap and validity thresholds, same-bar or later confirmation, first-fill-only logic, historical backfilling, and incremental updates so signals remain consistent on both history and newly completed bars.
preview
Building a Traditional Point and Figure Indicator in MQL5

Building a Traditional Point and Figure Indicator in MQL5

This article implements a custom Point and Figure indicator in MQL5 that maps price movement into X/O columns using a fixed box size and three-box reversal logic. We define the base price, convert prices into box intervals, manage trends and reversals, auto-scale the indicator window, and render symbols with objects, providing a clean, time-independent view of trends, breakouts, and support/resistance.
preview
Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 8): Micro-Trend Strength

Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 8): Micro-Trend Strength

Part 8 adds bar-by-bar micro-trend scoring for NQ M1. GetMicroTrendStrength() builds a continuous [-1, +1] composite from EMA alignment, ATR‑normalized price position, slope consistency, and volume, with a contradiction penalty to suppress alignment/price conflicts. Session-adaptive thresholds scale by Part 7 confidence to modulate signal frequency across regimes. Outputs include a seven-state label, a binary signal, and a persistence check, calibrated on 514 New York sessions (May 2024–May 2026).
preview
How to Detect and Normalize Chart Objects in MQL5 (Part 2): Collecting and Structuring Data from Complex Analytical Objects

How to Detect and Normalize Chart Objects in MQL5 (Part 2): Collecting and Structuring Data from Complex Analytical Objects

Manually drawn analytical object tools like Fibonacci tools, and Andrews Pitchforks are invisible to automated trading logic. This article extends a base detector to extract anchor points, level arrays, and geometric offsets from complex objects. You will implement a reusable collector that normalizes the raw chart data into structured memory arrays, ready for strategy decisions.
preview
Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 9): Pullback Quality

Market Microstructure in MQL5 (Part 9): Pullback Quality

Part 9 adds a second measurement layer to Part 8's micro‑trend signal: pullback quality. It maps Fibonacci retracement depth to a six‑level PULLBACK QUALITY label, adds an H1 range position from a 60‑bar rolling proxy, and uses lag‑1 momentum autocorrelation. These inputs form a single composite entry‑quality score in [0,1] for filtering setups and sizing trades within MicroStructure_Foundation.mqh.
preview
Persistence Entropy as a Market Regime Indicator in MQL5

Persistence Entropy as a Market Regime Indicator in MQL5

This article turns the verified TDA pipeline into a live MQL5 indicator. It reduces each price window to two persistence-entropy lines (H0 and H1), computes a normalized loop-strength metric with an adaptive percentile band, and places fade marks only when loop strength is high and price hits a window extreme. You can attach the indicator, read six buffers from an Expert Advisor, and tune key window, ranking, and performance parameters.
preview
Making Custom Indicators for Beginners (Part 2): Fisher-style Indicator

Making Custom Indicators for Beginners (Part 2): Fisher-style Indicator

This article develops a Fisher‑style Indicator in MQL5 from first principles: normalize price within a recent high/low window, smooth and clamp the value, then apply a logarithmic transform. We cover buffer wiring, calculation‑buffer state management across bars, and seeding for stable starts. An accompanying EA implements threshold and reversal confirmation to show how to act on the signal.
preview
A Forgotten Classic in Volume Analysis: The Finite Volume Elements Indicator for Today's Markets

A Forgotten Classic in Volume Analysis: The Finite Volume Elements Indicator for Today's Markets

In this article, we will examine the Finite Volume Elements (FVE) indicator, which helps identify genuine capital flows in the market. We will implement FVE for MetaTrader 5 and review recommendations for using it in trading.