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
Developing an MQTT client for MetaTrader 5: a TDD approach — Part 2

Developing an MQTT client for MetaTrader 5: a TDD approach — Part 2

This article is part of a series describing our development steps of a native MQL5 client for the MQTT protocol. In this part we describe our code organization, the first header files and classes, and how we are writing our tests. This article also includes brief notes about the Test-Driven-Development practice and how we are applying it to this project.
preview
Ensemble methods to enhance numerical predictions in MQL5

Ensemble methods to enhance numerical predictions in MQL5

In this article, we present the implementation of several ensemble learning methods in MQL5 and examine their effectiveness across different scenarios.
preview
Mastering Model Interpretation: Gaining Deeper Insight From Your Machine Learning Models

Mastering Model Interpretation: Gaining Deeper Insight From Your Machine Learning Models

Machine Learning is a complex and rewarding field for anyone of any experience. In this article we dive deep into the inner mechanisms powering the models you build, we explore the intricate world of features,predictions and impactful decisions unravelling the complexities and gaining a firm grasp of model interpretation. Learn the art of navigating tradeoffs , enhancing predictions, ranking feature importance all while ensuring robust decision making. This essential read helps you clock more performance from your machine learning models and extract more value for employing machine learning methodologies.
preview
From Basic to Intermediate: Arrays and Strings (II)

From Basic to Intermediate: Arrays and Strings (II)

In this article I will show that although we are still at a very basic stage of programming, we can already implement some interesting applications. In this case, we will create a fairly simple password generator. This way we will be able to apply some of the concepts that have been explained so far. In addition, we will look at how solutions can be developed for some specific problems.
preview
Neural Networks in Trading: Generalized 3D Referring Expression Segmentation

Neural Networks in Trading: Generalized 3D Referring Expression Segmentation

While analyzing the market situation, we divide it into separate segments, identifying key trends. However, traditional analysis methods often focus on one aspect and thus limit the proper perception. In this article, we will learn about a method that enables the selection of multiple objects to ensure a more comprehensive and multi-layered understanding of the situation.
preview
Neural Networks in Trading: Models Using Wavelet Transform and Multi-Task Attention

Neural Networks in Trading: Models Using Wavelet Transform and Multi-Task Attention

We invite you to explore a framework that combines wavelet transforms and a multi-task self-attention model, aimed at improving the responsiveness and accuracy of forecasting in volatile market conditions. The wavelet transform allows asset returns to be decomposed into high and low frequencies, carefully capturing long-term market trends and short-term fluctuations.
preview
Category Theory in MQL5 (Part 12): Orders

Category Theory in MQL5 (Part 12): Orders

This article which is part of a series that follows Category Theory implementation of Graphs in MQL5, delves in Orders. We examine how concepts of Order-Theory can support monoid sets in informing trade decisions by considering two major ordering types.
preview
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 63): Using Patterns of DeMarker and Envelope Channels

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 63): Using Patterns of DeMarker and Envelope Channels

The DeMarker Oscillator and the Envelope indicator are momentum and support/resistance tools that can be paired when developing an Expert Advisor. We therefore examine on a pattern by pattern basis what could be of use and what potentially avoid. We are using, as always, a wizard assembled Expert Advisor together with the Patterns-Usage functions that are built into the Expert Signal Class.
preview
Forecasting exchange rates using classic machine learning methods: Logit and Probit models

Forecasting exchange rates using classic machine learning methods: Logit and Probit models

In the article, an attempt is made to build a trading EA for predicting exchange rate quotes. The algorithm is based on classical classification models - logistic and probit regression. The likelihood ratio criterion is used as a filter for trading signals.
preview
Hybridization of population algorithms. Sequential and parallel structures

Hybridization of population algorithms. Sequential and parallel structures

Here we will dive into the world of hybridization of optimization algorithms by looking at three key types: strategy mixing, sequential and parallel hybridization. We will conduct a series of experiments combining and testing relevant optimization algorithms.
preview
From Basic to Intermediate: Template and Typename (III)

From Basic to Intermediate: Template and Typename (III)

In this article, we will discuss the first part of the topic, which is not so easy for beginners to understand. In order not to get even more confused and to explain this topic correctly, we will divide the explanation into stages. We will devote this article to the first stage. However, although at the end of the article it may seem that we have reached the deadlock, in fact we will take a step towards another situation, which will be better understood in the next article.
preview
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 82): Using Patterns of TRIX and the WPR with DQN Reinforcement Learning

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 82): Using Patterns of TRIX and the WPR with DQN Reinforcement Learning

In the last article, we examined the pairing of Ichimoku and the ADX under an Inference Learning framework. For this piece we revisit, Reinforcement Learning when used with an indicator pairing we considered last in ‘Part 68’. The TRIX and Williams Percent Range. Our algorithm for this review will be the Quantile Regression DQN. As usual, we present this as a custom signal class designed for implementation with the MQL5 Wizard.
preview
Data Science and ML (Part 47): Forecasting the Market Using the DeepAR model in Python

Data Science and ML (Part 47): Forecasting the Market Using the DeepAR model in Python

In this article, we will attempt to predict the market with a decent model for time series forecasting named DeepAR. A model that is a combination of deep neural networks and autoregressive properties found in models like ARIMA and Vector Autoregressive (VAR).
preview
Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 90): Frequency Interpolation of Time Series (FITS)

Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 90): Frequency Interpolation of Time Series (FITS)

By studying the FEDformer method, we opened the door to the frequency domain of time series representation. In this new article, we will continue the topic we started. We will consider a method with which we can not only conduct an analysis, but also predict subsequent states in a particular area.
preview
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 39): Relative Strength Index

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 39): Relative Strength Index

The RSI is a popular momentum oscillator that measures pace and size of a security’s recent price change to evaluate over-and-under valued situations in the security’s price. These insights in speed and magnitude are key in defining reversal points. We put this oscillator to work in another custom signal class and examine the traits of some of its signals. We start, though, by wrapping up what we started previously on Bollinger Bands.
preview
Self Optimizing Expert Advisor With MQL5 And Python (Part VI): Taking Advantage of Deep Double Descent

Self Optimizing Expert Advisor With MQL5 And Python (Part VI): Taking Advantage of Deep Double Descent

Traditional machine learning teaches practitioners to be vigilant not to overfit their models. However, this ideology is being challenged by new insights published by diligent researches from Harvard, who have discovered that what appears to be overfitting may in some circumstances be the results of terminating your training procedures prematurely. We will demonstrate how we can use the ideas published in the research paper, to improve our use of AI in forecasting market returns.
preview
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 45): Reinforcement Learning with Monte-Carlo

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 45): Reinforcement Learning with Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo is the fourth different algorithm in reinforcement learning that we are considering with the aim of exploring its implementation in wizard assembled Expert Advisors. Though anchored in random sampling, it does present vast ways of simulation which we can look to exploit.
preview
From Basic to Intermediate: Passing by Value or by Reference

From Basic to Intermediate: Passing by Value or by Reference

In this article, we will practically understand the difference between passing by value and passing by reference. Although this seems like something simple and common and not causing any problems, many experienced programmers often face real failures in working on the code precisely because of this small detail. Knowing when, how, and why to use pass by value or pass by reference will make a huge difference in our lives as programmers. 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
MQL5 Wizard Techniques You Should Know (Part 15): Support Vector Machines with Newton's Polynomial

MQL5 Wizard Techniques You Should Know (Part 15): Support Vector Machines with Newton's Polynomial

Support Vector Machines classify data based on predefined classes by exploring the effects of increasing its dimensionality. It is a supervised learning method that is fairly complex given its potential to deal with multi-dimensioned data. For this article we consider how it’s very basic implementation of 2-dimensioned data can be done more efficiently with Newton’s Polynomial when classifying price-action.
preview
Data Science and ML (Part 36): Dealing with Biased Financial Markets

Data Science and ML (Part 36): Dealing with Biased Financial Markets

Financial markets are not perfectly balanced. Some markets are bullish, some are bearish, and some exhibit some ranging behaviors indicating uncertainty in either direction, this unbalanced information when used to train machine learning models can be misleading as the markets change frequently. In this article, we are going to discuss several ways to tackle this issue.
preview
Neural Networks in Trading: A Hybrid Trading Framework with Predictive Coding (Final Part)

Neural Networks in Trading: A Hybrid Trading Framework with Predictive Coding (Final Part)

We continue our examination of the StockFormer hybrid trading system, which combines predictive coding and reinforcement learning algorithms for financial time series analysis. The system is based on three Transformer branches with a Diversified Multi-Head Attention (DMH-Attn) mechanism that enables the capturing of complex patterns and interdependencies between assets. Previously, we got acquainted with the theoretical aspects of the framework and implemented the DMH-Attn mechanisms. Today, we will talk about the model architecture and training.
preview
An introduction to Receiver Operating Characteristic curves

An introduction to Receiver Operating Characteristic curves

ROC curves are graphical representations used to evaluate the performance of classifiers. Despite ROC graphs being relatively straightforward, there exist common misconceptions and pitfalls when using them in practice. This article aims to provide an introduction to ROC graphs as a tool for practitioners seeking to understand classifier performance evaluation.
preview
Statistical Arbitrage Through Cointegrated Stocks (Part 7): Scoring System 2

Statistical Arbitrage Through Cointegrated Stocks (Part 7): Scoring System 2

This article describes two additional scoring criteria used for selection of baskets of stocks to be traded in mean-reversion strategies, more specifically, in cointegration based statistical arbitrage. It complements a previous article where liquidity and strength of the cointegration vectors were presented, along with the strategic criteria of timeframe and lookback period, by including the stability of the cointegration vectors and the time to mean reversion (half-time). The article includes the commented results of a backtest with the new filters applied and the files required for its reproduction are also provided.
preview
Ordinal Encoding for Nominal Variables

Ordinal Encoding for Nominal Variables

In this article, we discuss and demonstrate how to convert nominal predictors into numerical formats that are suitable for machine learning algorithms, using both Python and MQL5.
preview
From Basic to Intermediate: Struct (I)

From Basic to Intermediate: Struct (I)

Today we will begin to study structures in a simpler, more practical, and comfortable way. Structures are among the foundations of programming, whether they are structured or not. I know many people think of structures as just collections of data, but I assure you that they are much more than just structures. And here we will begin to explore this new universe in the most didactic way.
preview
Neural Network in Practice: Least Squares

Neural Network in Practice: Least Squares

In this article, we'll look at a few ideas, including how mathematical formulas are more complex in appearance than when implemented in code. In addition, we will consider how to set up a chart quadrant, as well as one interesting problem that may arise in your MQL5 code. Although, to be honest, I still don't quite understand how to explain it. Anyway, I'll show you how to fix it in code.
preview
Fibonacci in Forex (Part I): Examining the Price-Time Relationship

Fibonacci in Forex (Part I): Examining the Price-Time Relationship

How does the market observe Fibonacci-based relationships? This sequence, where each subsequent number is equal to the sum of the two previous ones (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...), not only describes the growth of the rabbit population. We will consider the Pythagorean hypothesis that everything in the world is subject to certain relationships of numbers...
preview
Introduction to MQL5 (Part 31): Mastering API and WebRequest Function in MQL5 (V)

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 31): Mastering API and WebRequest Function in MQL5 (V)

Learn how to use WebRequest and external API calls to retrieve recent candle data, convert each value into a usable type, and save the information neatly in a table format. This step lays the groundwork for building an indicator that visualizes the data in candle format.
preview
Post-Factum trading analysis: Selecting trailing stops and new stop levels in the strategy tester

Post-Factum trading analysis: Selecting trailing stops and new stop levels in the strategy tester

We continue the topic of analyzing completed deals in the strategy tester to improve the quality of trading. Let's see how using different trailing stops can change our existing trading results.
preview
From Basic to Intermediate: Variables (II)

From Basic to Intermediate: Variables (II)

Today we will look at how to work with static variables. This question often confuses many programmers, both beginners and those with some experience, because there are several recommendations that must be followed when using this mechanism. The materials presented here are intended for didactic purposes only. Under no circumstances should the application be viewed for any purpose other than to learn and master the concepts presented.
preview
Creating a Trading Administrator Panel in MQL5 (Part X): External resource-based interface

Creating a Trading Administrator Panel in MQL5 (Part X): External resource-based interface

Today, we are harnessing the capabilities of MQL5 to utilize external resources—such as images in the BMP format—to create a uniquely styled home interface for the Trading Administrator Panel. The strategy demonstrated here is particularly useful when packaging multiple resources, including images, sounds, and more, for streamlined distribution. Join us in this discussion as we explore how these features are implemented to deliver a modern and visually appealing interface for our New_Admin_Panel EA.
preview
Biological neuron for forecasting financial time series

Biological neuron for forecasting financial time series

We will build a biologically correct system of neurons for time series forecasting. The introduction of a plasma-like environment into the neural network architecture creates a kind of "collective intelligence," where each neuron influences the system's operation not only through direct connections, but also through long-range electromagnetic interactions. Let's see how the neural brain modeling system will perform in the market.
preview
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 70):  Using Patterns of SAR and the RVI with a Exponential Kernel Network

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 70): Using Patterns of SAR and the RVI with a Exponential Kernel Network

We follow up our last article, where we introduced the indicator pair of the SAR and the RVI, by considering how this indicator pairing could be extended with Machine Learning. SAR and RVI are a trend and momentum complimentary pairing. Our machine learning approach uses a convolution neural network that engages the Exponential kernel in sizing its kernels and channels, when fine-tuning the forecasts of this indicator pairing. As always, this is done in a custom signal class file that works with the MQL5 wizard to assemble an Expert Advisor.
preview
From Basic to Intermediate: Arrays and Strings (III)

From Basic to Intermediate: Arrays and Strings (III)

This article considers two aspects. First, how the standard library can convert binary values to other representations such as octal, decimal, and hexadecimal. Second, we will talk about how we can determine the width of our password based on the secret phrase, using the knowledge we have already acquired.
preview
Mastering Log Records (Part 4): Saving logs to files

Mastering Log Records (Part 4): Saving logs to files

In this article, I will teach you basic file operations and how to configure a flexible handler for customization. We will update the CLogifyHandlerFile class to write logs directly to the file. We will conduct a performance test by simulating a strategy on EURUSD for a week, generating logs at each tick, with a total time of 5 minutes and 11 seconds. The result will be compared in a future article, where we will implement a caching system to improve performance.
preview
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (14): Multi Objective Timeseries Forecasting with STF

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (14): Multi Objective Timeseries Forecasting with STF

Spatial Temporal Fusion which is using both ‘space’ and time metrics in modelling data is primarily useful in remote-sensing, and a host of other visual based activities in gaining a better understanding of our surroundings. Thanks to a published paper, we take a novel approach in using it by examining its potential to traders.
preview
Causal analysis of time series using transfer entropy

Causal analysis of time series using transfer entropy

In this article, we discuss how statistical causality can be applied to identify predictive variables. We will explore the link between causality and transfer entropy, as well as present MQL5 code for detecting directional transfers of information between two variables.
preview
Creating a Trading Administrator Panel in MQL5 (Part XI): Modern feature communications interface (I)

Creating a Trading Administrator Panel in MQL5 (Part XI): Modern feature communications interface (I)

Today, we are focusing on the enhancement of the Communications Panel messaging interface to align with the standards of modern, high-performing communication applications. This improvement will be achieved by updating the CommunicationsDialog class. Join us in this article and discussion as we explore key insights and outline the next steps in advancing interface programming using MQL5.
preview
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for Synthetic Data in Financial Modeling (Part 2): Creating Synthetic Symbol for Testing

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for Synthetic Data in Financial Modeling (Part 2): Creating Synthetic Symbol for Testing

In this article we are creating a synthetic symbol using a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) involves generating realistic Financial data that mimics the behavior of actual market instruments, such as EURUSD. The GAN model learns patterns and volatility from historical market data and creates synthetic price data with similar characteristics.
preview
From Novice to Expert: Developing a Geographic Market Awareness with MQL5 Visualization

From Novice to Expert: Developing a Geographic Market Awareness with MQL5 Visualization

Trading without session awareness is like navigating without a compass—you're moving, but not with purpose. Today, we're revolutionizing how traders perceive market timing by transforming ordinary charts into dynamic geographical displays. Using MQL5's powerful visualization capabilities, we'll build a live world map that illuminates active trading sessions in real-time, turning abstract market hours into intuitive visual intelligence. This journey sharpens your trading psychology and reveals professional-grade programming techniques that bridge the gap between complex market structure and practical, actionable insight.