MQL5 Programming Articles
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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Pair trading
In this article, we will consider pair trading, namely what its principles are and if there are any prospects for its practical application. We will also try to create a pair trading strategy.
A system of voice notifications for trade events and signals
Nowadays, voice assistants play a prominent role in human life, as we often use navigators, voice search and translators. In this article, I will try to develop a simple and user friendly system of voice notifications for various trade events, market states or signals generated by trading signals.
Learn how to design a trading system by Standard Deviation
Here is a new article in our series about how to design a trading system by the most popular technical indicators in MetaTrader 5 trading platform. In this new article, we will learn how to design a trading system by Standard Deviation indicator.
Day Trading Larry Connors RSI2 Mean-Reversion Strategies
Larry Connors is a renowned trader and author, best known for his work in quantitative trading and strategies like the 2-period RSI (RSI2), which helps identify short-term overbought and oversold market conditions. In this article, we’ll first explain the motivation behind our research, then recreate three of Connors’ most famous strategies in MQL5 and apply them to intraday trading of the S&P 500 index CFD.
How to deal with lines using MQL5
In this article, you will find your way to deal with the most important lines like trendlines, support, and resistance by MQL5.
Separate optimization of a strategy on trend and flat conditions
The article considers applying the separate optimization method during various market conditions. Separate optimization means defining trading system's optimal parameters by optimizing for an uptrend and downtrend separately. To reduce the effect of false signals and improve profitability, the systems are made flexible, meaning they have some specific set of settings or input data, which is justified because the market behavior is constantly changing.
Neural networks made easy (Part 3): Convolutional networks
As a continuation of the neural network topic, I propose considering convolutional neural networks. This type of neural network are usually applied to analyzing visual imagery. In this article, we will consider the application of these networks in the financial markets.
Mastering Fair Value Gaps: Formation, Logic, and Automated Trading with Breakers and Market Structure Shifts
This is an article that I have written aimed to expound and explain Fair Value Gaps, their formation logic for occurring, and automated trading with breakers and market structure shifts.
Using cloud storage services for data exchange between terminals
Cloud technologies are becoming more popular. Nowadays, we can choose between paid and free storage services. Is it possible to use them in trading? This article proposes a technology for exchanging data between terminals using cloud storage services.
MVC design pattern and its possible application
The article discusses a popular MVC pattern, as well as the possibilities, pros and cons of its usage in MQL programs. The idea is to split an existing code into three separate components: Model, View and Controller.
Graphical Interfaces IV: Informational Interface Elements (Chapter 1)
At the current stage of development, the library for creating graphical interfaces contains a form and several controls that can be attached to it. It was mentioned before that one of the future articles would be dedicated to the multi-window mode. Now, we have everything ready for that and we will deal with it in the following chapter. In this chapter, we will write classes for creating the status bar and tooltip informational interface elements.
Advanced Order Execution Algorithms in MQL5: TWAP, VWAP, and Iceberg Orders
An MQL5 framework that brings institutional-grade execution algorithms (TWAP, VWAP, Iceberg) to retail traders through a unified execution manager and performance analyzer for smoother, more precise order slicing and analytics.
Here Comes the New MetaTrader 5 and MQL5
This is just a brief review of MetaTrader 5. I can't describe all the system's new features for such a short time period - the testing started on 2009.09.09. This is a symbolical date, and I am sure it will be a lucky number. A few days have passed since I got the beta version of the MetaTrader 5 terminal and MQL5. I haven't managed to try all its features, but I am already impressed.
Learn how to design a trading system by Williams PR
A new article in our series about learning how to design a trading system by the most popular technical indicators by MQL5 to be used in the MetaTrader 5. In this article, we will learn how to design a trading system by the Williams' %R indicator.
Event handling in MQL5: Changing MA period on-the-fly
Suppose that simple MA (Moving Average) indicator with period 13 is applied to a chart. And we want to change the period to 20, but we do not want to go to indicator properties dialog box and edit the number 13 to 20: simply tired of these tedious actions with mouse and keyboard. And especially we don't want to open indicator code and modify it. We want to do all this with a single press of a button - "up arrows" next to the numeric keypad. In this article I'll describe how to do it.
Continuous Walk-Forward Optimization (Part 6): Auto optimizer's logical part and structure
We have previously considered the creation of automatic walk-forward optimization. This time, we will proceed to the internal structure of the auto optimizer tool. The article will be useful for all those who wish to further work with the created project and to modify it, as well as for those who wish to understand the program logic. The current article contains UML diagrams which present the internal structure of the project and the relationships between objects. It also describes the process of optimization start, but it does not contain the description of the optimizer implementation process.
Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 10): Developing the Trend Flat Momentum Strategy
In this article, we develop an Expert Advisor in MQL5 for the Trend Flat Momentum Strategy. We combine a two moving averages crossover with RSI and CCI momentum filters to generate trade signals. We also cover backtesting and potential enhancements for real-world performance.
DoEasy. Controls (Part 25): Tooltip WinForms object
In this article, I will start developing the Tooltip control, as well as new graphical primitives for the library. Naturally, not every element has a tooltip, but every graphical object has the ability to set it.
Graphical Interfaces II: the Separation Line and Context Menu Elements (Chapter 2)
In this article we will create the separation line element. It will be possible to use it not only as an independent interface element but also as a part of many other elements. After that, we will have everything required for the development of the context menu class, which will be also considered in this article in detail. Added to that, we will introduce all necessary additions to the class, which is the base for storing pointers to all the elements of the graphical interface of the application.
How to connect AI agents to MetaTrader 5 via MCP
This article shows how to connect AI agents directly to MetaTrader 5 by building a complete MCP (Model Context Protocol) server in Python. It details the architecture, MetaTrader 5 client wrapper, market data and order handlers, and tool registration over stdio, with testing via MCP Inspector and connections to clients like Claude Desktop or OpenClaw. The result is a standardized bridge for natural-language queries, live data retrieval, and safe order execution in MetaTrader 5.
Graphical Interfaces VIII: The Calendar Control (Chapter 1)
In the part VIII of the series of articles dedicated to creating graphical interfaces in MetaTrader, we will consider complex composite controls like calendars, tree view, and file navigator. Due to the large amount of information, there are separate articles written for every subject. The first chapter of this part describes the calendar control and its expanded version — a drop down calendar.
Connecting NeuroSolutions Neuronets
In addition to creation of neuronets, the NeuroSolutions software suite allows exporting them as DLLs. This article describes the process of creating a neuronet, generating a DLL and connecting it to an Expert Advisor for trading in MetaTrader 5.
MQL5 Wizard: How to Create a Module of Trailing of Open Positions
The generator of trade strategies MQL5 Wizard greatly simplifies the testing of trading ideas. The article discusses how to write and connect to the generator of trade strategies MQL5 Wizard your own class of managing open positions by moving the Stop Loss level to a lossless zone when the price goes in the position direction, allowing to protect your profit decrease drawdowns when trading. It also tells about the structure and format of the description of the created class for the MQL5 Wizard.
Econometric Approach to Analysis of Charts
This article describes the econometric methods of analysis, the autocorrelation analysis and the analysis of conditional variance in particular. What is the benefit of the approach described here? Use of the non-linear GARCH models allows representing the analyzed series formally from the mathematical point of view and creating a forecast for a specified number of steps.
Introduction to MQL5 (Part 12): A Beginner's Guide to Building Custom Indicators
Learn how to build a custom indicator in MQL5. With a project-based approach. This beginner-friendly guide covers indicator buffers, properties, and trend visualization, allowing you to learn step-by-step.
Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 34): Trendline Breakout System with R-Squared Goodness of Fit
In this article, we develop a Trendline Breakout System in MQL5 that identifies support and resistance trendlines using swing points, validated by R-squared goodness of fit and angle constraints, to automate breakout trades. Our plan is to detect swing highs and lows within a specified lookback period, construct trendlines with a minimum number of touch points, and validate them using R-squared metrics and angle constraints to ensure reliability.
Neural networks made easy (Part 9): Documenting the work
We have already passed a long way and the code in our library is becoming bigger and bigger. This makes it difficult to keep track of all connections and dependencies. Therefore, I suggest creating documentation for the earlier created code and to keep it updating with each new step. Properly prepared documentation will help us see the integrity of our work.
Combinatorics and probability for trading (Part IV): Bernoulli Logic
In this article, I decided to highlight the well-known Bernoulli scheme and to show how it can be used to describe trading-related data arrays. All this will then be used to create a self-adapting trading system. We will also look for a more generic algorithm, a special case of which is the Bernoulli formula, and will find an application for it.
Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 16): Midnight Range Breakout with Break of Structure (BoS) Price Action
In this article, we automate the Midnight Range Breakout with Break of Structure strategy in MQL5, detailing code for breakout detection and trade execution. We define precise risk parameters for entries, stops, and profits. Backtesting and optimization are included for practical trading.
How to create a simple Multi-Currency Expert Advisor using MQL5 (Part 2): Indicator Signals: Multi Timeframe Parabolic SAR Indicator
The Multi-Currency Expert Advisor in this article is Expert Advisor or trading robot that can trade (open orders, close orders and manage orders for example: Trailing Stop Loss and Trailing Profit) for more than 1 symbol pair only from one symbol chart. This time we will use only 1 indicator, namely Parabolic SAR or iSAR in multi-timeframes starting from PERIOD_M15 to PERIOD_D1.
Developing a Volatility Based Breakout System
Volatility based breakout system identifies market ranges, then trades when price breaks above or below those levels, filtered by volatility measures such as ATR. This approach helps capture strong directional moves.
Brute force approach to pattern search
In this article, we will search for market patterns, create Expert Advisors based on the identified patterns, and check how long these patterns remain valid, if they ever retain their validity.
Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 78): Animation principles in the library. Image slicing
In this article, I will define the animation principles to be used in some parts of the library. I will also develop a class for copying a part of the image and pasting it to a specified form object location while preserving and restoring the part of the form background the image is to be superimposed on.
Adaptive indicators
In this article, I will consider several possible approaches to creating adaptive indicators. Adaptive indicators are distinguished by the presence of feedback between the values of the input and output signals. This feedback allows the indicator to independently adjust to the optimal processing of financial time series values.
Swaps (Part I): Locking and Synthetic Positions
In this article I will try to expand the classic concept of swap trading methods. I will explain why I have come to the conclusion that this concept deserves special attention and is absolutely recommended for study.
Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 3): The Zone Recovery RSI System for Dynamic Trade Management
In this article, we create a Zone Recovery RSI EA System in MQL5, using RSI signals to trigger trades and a recovery strategy to manage losses. We implement a "ZoneRecovery" class to automate trade entries, recovery logic, and position management. The article concludes with backtesting insights to optimize performance and enhance the EA’s effectiveness.
Learn how to design a trading system by OBV
This is a new article to continue our series for beginners about how to design a trading system based on some of the popular indicators. We will learn a new indicator that is On Balance Volume (OBV), and we will learn how we can use it and design a trading system based on it.
MQL5 Cookbook: Handling BookEvent
This article considers BookEvent - a Depth of Market event, and the principle of its processing. An MQL program, handling states of Depth of Market, serves as an example. It is written using the object-oriented approach. Results of handling are displayed on the screen as a panel and Depth of Market levels.
Experiments with neural networks (Part 1): Revisiting geometry
In this article, I will use experimentation and non-standard approaches to develop a profitable trading system and check whether neural networks can be of any help for traders.
Combinatorics and probability theory for trading (Part II): Universal fractal
In this article, we will continue to study fractals and will pay special attention to summarizing all the material. To do this, I will try to bring all earlier developments into a compact form which would be convenient and understandable for practical application in trading.