MQL5 Programming Articles

icon

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.

Follow our new publications and discuss them on the Forum!

Add a new article
latest | best
preview
Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 37): Sentiment Tilt Meter

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 37): Sentiment Tilt Meter

Market sentiment is one of the most overlooked yet powerful forces influencing price movement. While most traders rely on lagging indicators or guesswork, the Sentiment Tilt Meter (STM) EA transforms raw market data into clear, visual guidance, showing whether the market is leaning bullish, bearish, or staying neutral in real-time. This makes it easier to confirm trades, avoid false entries, and time market participation more effectively.
Interview with Matúš German (ATC 2011)
Interview with Matúš German (ATC 2011)

Interview with Matúš German (ATC 2011)

On the second day of the Championship the Expert Advisor created by Matúš German (gery18) increased its capital by 2.5 times and took the lead being ahead of all competitors. Matúš himself doubts his Expert Advisor will win, he thinks that luck and high risk were the reasons of such unexpected rise.
preview
Integrating Computer Vision into Trading in MQL5 (Part 1): Creating Basic Functions

Integrating Computer Vision into Trading in MQL5 (Part 1): Creating Basic Functions

The EURUSD forecasting system with the use of computer vision and deep learning. Learn how convolutional neural networks can recognize complex price patterns in the foreign exchange market and predict exchange rate movements with up to 54% accuracy. The article shares the methodology for creating an algorithm that uses artificial intelligence technologies for visual analysis of charts instead of traditional technical indicators. The author demonstrates the process of transforming price data into "images", their processing by a neural network, and a unique opportunity to peer into the "consciousness" of AI through activation maps and attention heatmaps. Practical Python code using the MetaTrader 5 library allows readers to reproduce the system and apply it in their own trading.
preview
Elements of correlation analysis in MQL5: Pearson chi-square test of independence and correlation ratio

Elements of correlation analysis in MQL5: Pearson chi-square test of independence and correlation ratio

The article observes classical tools of correlation analysis. An emphasis is made on brief theoretical background, as well as on the practical implementation of the Pearson chi-square test of independence and the correlation ratio.
preview
From Novice to Expert: Animated News Headline Using MQL5 (III) — Indicator Insights

From Novice to Expert: Animated News Headline Using MQL5 (III) — Indicator Insights

In this article, we’ll advance the News Headline EA by introducing a dedicated indicator insights lane—a compact, on-chart display of key technical signals generated from popular indicators such as RSI, MACD, Stochastic, and CCI. This approach eliminates the need for multiple indicator subwindows on the MetaTrader 5 terminal, keeping your workspace clean and efficient. By leveraging the MQL5 API to access indicator data in the background, we can process and visualize market insights in real-time using custom logic. Join us as we explore how to manipulate indicator data in MQL5 to create an intelligent and space-saving scrolling insights system, all within a single horizontal lane on your trading chart.
Interview with Ilnur Khasanov (ATC 2011)
Interview with Ilnur Khasanov (ATC 2011)

Interview with Ilnur Khasanov (ATC 2011)

The Expert Advisor of Ilnur Khasanov (aharata) is holding its place in our TOP-10 chart of the Automated Trading Championship 2011 participants from the third week already, though Ilnur's acquaintance with Forex has started only a year ago. The idea that forms the basis of the Expert Advisor is simple but the trading robot contains self-optimization elements. Perhaps, that is the key to its survival? Besides, the author had to change the Expert Advisor planned to be submitted for the Championship...
Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 10): Using only real data for Replay
Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 10): Using only real data for Replay

Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 10): Using only real data for Replay

Here we will look at how we can use more reliable data (traded ticks) in the replay system without worrying about whether it is adjusted or not.
preview
Atomic Orbital Search (AOS) algorithm

Atomic Orbital Search (AOS) algorithm

The article considers the Atomic Orbital Search (AOS) algorithm, which uses the concepts of the atomic orbital model to simulate the search for solutions. The algorithm is based on probability distributions and the dynamics of interactions in the atom. The article discusses in detail the mathematical aspects of AOS, including updating the positions of candidate solutions and the mechanisms of energy absorption and release. AOS opens new horizons for applying quantum principles to computing problems by offering an innovative approach to optimization.
preview
DoEasy. Controls (Part 19): Scrolling tabs in TabControl, WinForms object events

DoEasy. Controls (Part 19): Scrolling tabs in TabControl, WinForms object events

In this article, I will create the functionality for scrolling tab headers in TabControl using scrolling buttons. The functionality is meant to place tab headers into a single line from either side of the control.
preview
Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 16): Impact of different quote histories on test results

Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 16): Impact of different quote histories on test results

The EA under development is expected to show good results when trading with different brokers. But for now we have been using quotes from a MetaQuotes demo account to perform tests. Let's see if our EA is ready to work on a trading account with different quotes compared to those used during testing and optimization.
preview
MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 5): Creating a Rolling Ticker Tape for Real-Time Symbol Monitoring

MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 5): Creating a Rolling Ticker Tape for Real-Time Symbol Monitoring

In this article, we develop a rolling ticker tape in MQL5 for real-time monitoring of multiple symbols, displaying bid prices, spreads, and daily percentage changes with scrolling effects. We implement customizable fonts, colors, and scroll speeds to highlight price movements and trends effectively.
preview
DoEasy. Service functions (Part 3): Outside Bar pattern

DoEasy. Service functions (Part 3): Outside Bar pattern

In this article, we will develop the Outside Bar Price Action pattern in the DoEasy library and optimize the methods of access to price pattern management. In addition, we will fix errors and shortcomings identified during library tests.
preview
Trading with the MQL5 Economic Calendar (Part 10): Draggable Dashboard and Interactive Hover Effects for Seamless News Navigation

Trading with the MQL5 Economic Calendar (Part 10): Draggable Dashboard and Interactive Hover Effects for Seamless News Navigation

In this article, we enhance the MQL5 Economic Calendar by introducing a draggable dashboard that allows us to reposition the interface for better chart visibility. We implement hover effects for buttons to improve interactivity and ensure seamless navigation with a dynamically positioned scrollbar.
preview
Algorithmic Trading Strategies: AI and Its Road to Golden Pinnacles

Algorithmic Trading Strategies: AI and Its Road to Golden Pinnacles

This article demonstrates an approach to creating trading strategies for gold using machine learning. Considering the proposed approach to the analysis and forecasting of time series from different angles, it is possible to determine its advantages and disadvantages in comparison with other ways of creating trading systems which are based solely on the analysis and forecasting of financial time series.
preview
Reusing Invalidated Orderblocks As Mitigation Blocks (SMC)

Reusing Invalidated Orderblocks As Mitigation Blocks (SMC)

In this article, we explore how previously invalidated orderblocks can be reused as mitigation blocks within Smart Money Concepts (SMC). These zones reveal where institutional traders re-enter the market after a failed orderblock, providing high-probability areas for trade continuation in the dominant trend.
preview
Developing a Replay System (Part 76): New Chart Trade (III)

Developing a Replay System (Part 76): New Chart Trade (III)

In this article, we'll look at how the code of DispatchMessage, missing from the previous article, works. We will laso introduce the topic of the next article. For this reason, it is important to understand how this code works before moving on to the next topic. The content presented here is intended solely for educational purposes. Under no circumstances should the application be viewed for any purpose other than to learn and master the concepts presented.
preview
Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 85): Multivariate Time Series Forecasting

Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 85): Multivariate Time Series Forecasting

In this article, I would like to introduce you to a new complex timeseries forecasting method, which harmoniously combines the advantages of linear models and transformers.
preview
Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 86): U-Shaped Transformer

Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 86): U-Shaped Transformer

We continue to study timeseries forecasting algorithms. In this article, we will discuss another method: the U-shaped Transformer.
preview
Reusing Invalidated Orderblocks As Mitigation Blocks (SMC)

Reusing Invalidated Orderblocks As Mitigation Blocks (SMC)

In this article, we explore how previously invalidated orderblocks can be reused as mitigation blocks within Smart Money Concepts (SMC). These zones reveal where institutional traders re-enter the market after a failed orderblock, providing high-probability areas for trade continuation in the dominant trend.
preview
Build Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 7): Trading With Multiple Periods At Once

Build Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 7): Trading With Multiple Periods At Once

In this series of articles, we have considered multiple different ways of identifying the best period to use our technical indicators with. Today, we shall demonstrate to the reader how they can instead perform the opposite logic, that is to say, instead of picking the single best period to use, we will demonstrate to the reader how to employ all available periods effectively. This approach reduces the amount of data discarded, and offers alternative use cases for machine learning algorithms beyond ordinary price prediction.
preview
Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 13): A Gentle Introduction To Control Theory Using Matrix Factorization

Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 13): A Gentle Introduction To Control Theory Using Matrix Factorization

Financial markets are unpredictable, and trading strategies that look profitable in the past often collapse in real market conditions. This happens because most strategies are fixed once deployed and cannot adapt or learn from their mistakes. By borrowing ideas from control theory, we can use feedback controllers to observe how our strategies interact with markets and adjust their behavior toward profitability. Our results show that adding a feedback controller to a simple moving average strategy improved profits, reduced risk, and increased efficiency, proving that this approach has strong potential for trading applications.
preview
Mastering Log Records (Part 1): Fundamental Concepts and First Steps in MQL5

Mastering Log Records (Part 1): Fundamental Concepts and First Steps in MQL5

Welcome to the beginning of another journey! This article opens a special series where we will create, step by step, a library for log manipulation, tailored for those who develop in the MQL5 language.
preview
Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 08): Locking the indicator

Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 08): Locking the indicator

In this article, we will look at how to lock the indicator while simply using the MQL5 language, and we will do it in a very interesting and amazing way.
preview
Matrix Factorization: A more practical modeling

Matrix Factorization: A more practical modeling

You might not have noticed that the matrix modeling was a little strange, since only columns were specified, not rows and columns. This looks very strange when reading the code that performs matrix factorizations. If you were expecting to see the rows and columns listed, you might get confused when trying to factorize. Moreover, this matrix modeling method is not the best. This is because when we model matrices in this way, we encounter some limitations that force us to use other methods or functions that would not be necessary if the modeling were done in a more appropriate way.
preview
Risk-Based Trade Placement EA with On-Chart UI (Part 2): Adding Interactivity and Logic

Risk-Based Trade Placement EA with On-Chart UI (Part 2): Adding Interactivity and Logic

Learn how to build an interactive MQL5 Expert Advisor with an on-chart control panel. Know how to compute risk-based lot sizes and place trades directly from the chart.
preview
From Novice to Expert: Detecting Liquidity Zone Flips Using MQL5

From Novice to Expert: Detecting Liquidity Zone Flips Using MQL5

This article presents an MQL5 indicator that detects and manages liquidity zone flips. It identifies supply and demand zones from higher timeframes using a base–impulse pattern, applies objective breakout and impulse thresholds, and flips zones automatically when structure changes. The result is a dynamic support‑resistance map that reduces manual redraws and gives you clear, actionable context for signals and retests.
preview
MetaTrader tick info access from MQL5 services to Python application using sockets

MetaTrader tick info access from MQL5 services to Python application using sockets

Sometimes everything is not programmable in the MQL5 language. And even if it is possible to convert existing advanced libraries in MQL5, it would be time-consuming. This article tries to show that we can bypass Windows OS dependency by transporting tick information such as bid, ask and time with MetaTrader services to a Python application using sockets.
preview
Python-MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester (Part 04): Tester 101

Python-MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester (Part 04): Tester 101

In this fascinating article, we build our very first trading robot in the simulator and run a strategy testing action that resembles how the MetaTrader 5 strategy tester works, then compare the outcome produced in a custom simulation against our favorite terminal.
preview
Cross-validation and basics of causal inference in CatBoost models, export to ONNX format

Cross-validation and basics of causal inference in CatBoost models, export to ONNX format

The article proposes the method of creating bots using machine learning.
preview
Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 16): A Refreshing Look at Decision Trees

Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 16): A Refreshing Look at Decision Trees

Dive into the intricate world of decision trees in the latest installment of our Data Science and Machine Learning series. Tailored for traders seeking strategic insights, this article serves as a comprehensive recap, shedding light on the powerful role decision trees play in the analysis of market trends. Explore the roots and branches of these algorithmic trees, unlocking their potential to enhance your trading decisions. Join us for a refreshing perspective on decision trees and discover how they can be your allies in navigating the complexities of financial markets.
Interview with Valery Mazurenko (ATC 2010)
Interview with Valery Mazurenko (ATC 2010)

Interview with Valery Mazurenko (ATC 2010)

By the end of the first trading week, Valery Mazurenrk (notused) with his multicurrency Expert Advisor ch2010 appeared on the top position. Having treated trading as a hobby, Valery is now trying to monetize this hobby and write a stable-operating Expert Advisor for real trading. In this interview he shares his opinion about the role of mathematics in trading and explains why object-oriented approach suits best to writing multicurrency EAs.
preview
Neural networks made easy (Part 74): Trajectory prediction with adaptation

Neural networks made easy (Part 74): Trajectory prediction with adaptation

This article introduces a fairly effective method of multi-agent trajectory forecasting, which is able to adapt to various environmental conditions.
preview
Neural Networks in Trading: Node-Adaptive Graph Representation with NAFS

Neural Networks in Trading: Node-Adaptive Graph Representation with NAFS

We invite you to get acquainted with the NAFS (Node-Adaptive Feature Smoothing) method, which is a non-parametric approach to creating node representations that does not require parameter training. NAFS extracts features of each node given its neighbors and then adaptively combines these features to form a final representation.
preview
Time Evolution Travel Algorithm (TETA)

Time Evolution Travel Algorithm (TETA)

This is my own algorithm. The article presents the Time Evolution Travel Algorithm (TETA) inspired by the concept of parallel universes and time streams. The basic idea of the algorithm is that, although time travel in the conventional sense is impossible, we can choose a sequence of events that lead to different realities.
preview
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 24): Moving Averages

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 24): Moving Averages

Moving Averages are a very common indicator that are used and understood by most Traders. We explore possible use cases that may not be so common within MQL5 Wizard assembled Expert Advisors.
preview
From Novice to Expert: Animated News Headline Using MQL5 (X)—Multiple Symbol Chart View for News Trading

From Novice to Expert: Animated News Headline Using MQL5 (X)—Multiple Symbol Chart View for News Trading

Today we will develop a multi-chart view system using chart objects. The goal is to enhance news trading by applying MQL5 algorithms that help reduce trader reaction time during periods of high volatility, such as major news releases. In this case, we provide traders with an integrated way to monitor multiple major symbols within a single all-in-one news trading tool. Our work is continuously advancing with the News Headline EA, which now features a growing set of functions that add real value both for traders using fully automated systems and for those who prefer manual trading assisted by algorithms. Explore more knowledge, insights, and practical ideas by clicking through and joining this discussion.
preview
Evolutionary trading algorithm with reinforcement learning and extinction of feeble individuals (ETARE)

Evolutionary trading algorithm with reinforcement learning and extinction of feeble individuals (ETARE)

In this article, I introduce an innovative trading algorithm that combines evolutionary algorithms with deep reinforcement learning for Forex trading. The algorithm uses the mechanism of extinction of inefficient individuals to optimize the trading strategy.
preview
Using the MQL5 Economic Calendar for News Filtering (Part 2): Stop Management Positions During News Releases

Using the MQL5 Economic Calendar for News Filtering (Part 2): Stop Management Positions During News Releases

In part 2, we extend the news filter to protect existing positions during news events. Instead of closing trades, we temporarily remove stop-loss and take-profit levels, storing them safely in memory. When the news window ends, stops are deterministically restored, adjusted if price has already crossed the original levels, while respecting broker minimum distance rules. The result is a mechanism that preserves trade integrity without interfering with entry logic, keeping the EA in control through volatility.
preview
GUI: Tips and Tricks for creating your own Graphic Library in MQL

GUI: Tips and Tricks for creating your own Graphic Library in MQL

We'll go through the basics of GUI libraries so that you can understand how they work or even start making your own.
preview
A Generic Optimization Formulation (GOF) to Implement Custom Max with Constraints

A Generic Optimization Formulation (GOF) to Implement Custom Max with Constraints

In this article we will present a way to implement optimization problems with multiple objectives and constraints when selecting "Custom Max" in the Setting tab of the MetaTrader 5 terminal. As an example, the optimization problem could be: Maximize Profit Factor, Net Profit, and Recovery Factor, such that the Draw Down is less than 10%, the number of consecutive losses is less than 5, and the number of trades per week is more than 5.