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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DoEasy. Service functions (Part 2): Inside Bar pattern

DoEasy. Service functions (Part 2): Inside Bar pattern

In this article, we will continue to look at price patterns in the DoEasy library. We will also create the Inside Bar pattern class of the Price Action formations.
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Tables in the MVC Paradigm in MQL5: Integrating the Model Component into the View Component

Tables in the MVC Paradigm in MQL5: Integrating the Model Component into the View Component

In the article, we will create the first version of the TableControl (TableView) control. This will be a simple static table being created based on the input data defined by two arrays — a data array and an array of column headers.
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Category Theory in MQL5 (Part 4): Spans, Experiments, and Compositions

Category Theory in MQL5 (Part 4): Spans, Experiments, and Compositions

Category Theory is a diverse and expanding branch of Mathematics which as of yet is relatively uncovered in the MQL5 community. These series of articles look to introduce and examine some of its concepts with the overall goal of establishing an open library that provides insight while hopefully furthering the use of this remarkable field in Traders' strategy development.
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Redefining MQL5 and MetaTrader 5 Indicators

Redefining MQL5 and MetaTrader 5 Indicators

An innovative approach to collecting indicator information in MQL5 enables more flexible and streamlined data analysis by allowing developers to pass custom inputs to indicators for immediate calculations. This approach is particularly useful for algorithmic trading, as it provides enhanced control over the information processed by indicators, moving beyond traditional constraints.
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Walsh Functions in Modern Trading

Walsh Functions in Modern Trading

The article discusses the application of Walsh functions in trading. We will explore the basic principles of using these functions to analyze financial markets, forecast prices, and make trading decisions. We will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these functions, as well as the prospects for their application in trading and technical analysis.
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MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 12): Enhancing the Correlation Matrix Dashboard with Interactivity

MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 12): Enhancing the Correlation Matrix Dashboard with Interactivity

In this article, we enhance the correlation matrix dashboard in MQL5 with interactive features like panel dragging, minimizing/maximizing, hover effects on buttons and timeframes, and mouse event handling for improved user experience. We add sorting of symbols by average correlation strength in ascending/descending modes, toggle between correlation and p-value views, and incorporate light/dark theme switching with dynamic color updates.
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Optimizing Liquidity Raids: Mastering the Difference Between Liquidity Raids and Market Structure Shifts

Optimizing Liquidity Raids: Mastering the Difference Between Liquidity Raids and Market Structure Shifts

This is an article about a specialized trend-following EA that aims to clearly elaborate how to utilize trading setups after liquidity raids. This article will explore in detail an EA that is specifically designed for traders who are keen on optimizing and utilizing liquidity raids and purges as entry criteria for their trades and trading decisions. It will also explore how to correctly differentiate between liquidity raids and market structure shifts and how to validate and utilize each of them when they occur, thus trying to mitigate losses that occur from traders confusing the two.
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Package-based approach with KnitPkg for MQL5 development

Package-based approach with KnitPkg for MQL5 development

For maximum reliability and productivity in MetaTrader products built with MQL, this article advocates a development approach based on reusable “packages” managed by KnitPkg, a project manager for MQL5/MQL4. A package can be used as a building block for other packages or as the foundation for final artifacts that run directly on the MetaTrader platform, such as EAs, indicators, and more.
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Low-Frequency Quantitative Strategies in Metatrader 5: (Part 1) Setting Up An OLAP-Friendly Data Store

Low-Frequency Quantitative Strategies in Metatrader 5: (Part 1) Setting Up An OLAP-Friendly Data Store

The article outlines a practical data pipeline for quantitative analysis based on Parquet storage, Hive-style partitions, and DuckDB. It details migrating selected SQLite tables to Parquet, structuring market data by source, symbol, timeframe, and date, and querying it with SQL window functions. A Golden Cross example illustrates cross‑symbol evaluation of forward returns. Accompanying Python scripts handle data download, conversion, and execution.
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Crystal Structure Algorithm (CryStAl)

Crystal Structure Algorithm (CryStAl)

This article presents two versions of the Crystal Structure Algorithm: the original and the modified version. The Crystal Structure Algorithm (CryStAl), published in 2021 and inspired by the physics of crystal structures, was positioned as a parameter-free metaheuristic for global optimization. However, testing revealed a critical problem with the algorithm. A modified version, CryStAlm, is also presented; it addresses the original's key shortcomings.
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Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 13): Birth of the SIMULATOR (III)

Developing a Replay System — Market simulation (Part 13): Birth of the SIMULATOR (III)

Here we will simplify a few elements related to the work in the next article. I'll also explain how you can visualize what the simulator generates in terms of randomness.
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Developing a Replay System (Part 42): Chart Trade Project (I)

Developing a Replay System (Part 42): Chart Trade Project (I)

Let's create something more interesting. I don't want to spoil the surprise, so follow the article for a better understanding. From the very beginning of this series on developing the replay/simulator system, I was saying that the idea is to use the MetaTrader 5 platform in the same way both in the system we are developing and in the real market. It is important that this is done properly. No one wants to train and learn to fight using one tool while having to use another one during the fight.
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Example of CNA (Causality Network Analysis), SMOC (Stochastic Model Optimal Control) and Nash Game Theory with Deep Learning

Example of CNA (Causality Network Analysis), SMOC (Stochastic Model Optimal Control) and Nash Game Theory with Deep Learning

We will add Deep Learning to those three examples that were published in previous articles and compare results with previous. The aim is to learn how to add DL to other EA.
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MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 72): Using Patterns of MACD and the OBV with Supervised Learning

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 72): Using Patterns of MACD and the OBV with Supervised Learning

We follow up on our last article, where we introduced the indicator pair of the MACD and the OBV, by looking at how this pairing could be enhanced with Machine Learning. MACD and OBV are a trend and volume 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.
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.
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Twitter Sentiment Analysis with Sockets

Twitter Sentiment Analysis with Sockets

This innovative trading bot integrates MetaTrader 5 with Python to leverage real-time social media sentiment analysis for automated trading decisions. By analyzing Twitter sentiment related to specific financial instruments, the bot translates social media trends into actionable trading signals. It utilizes a client-server architecture with socket communication, enabling seamless interaction between MT5's trading capabilities and Python's data processing power. The system demonstrates the potential of combining quantitative finance with natural language processing, offering a cutting-edge approach to algorithmic trading that capitalizes on alternative data sources.
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Developing a Replay System (Part 73): An Unusual Communication (II)

Developing a Replay System (Part 73): An Unusual Communication (II)

In this article, we will look at how to transmit information in real time between the indicator and the service, and also understand why problems may arise when changing the timeframe and how to solve them. As a bonus, you will get access to the latest version of the replay /simulation app.
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Building an Interactive AnchorFlow Volume Profile Indicator (MTF) in MQL5

Building an Interactive AnchorFlow Volume Profile Indicator (MTF) in MQL5

We implement an interactive, anchored multi-timeframe volume profile in MQL5 for MetaTrader 5. The indicator draws the current-timeframe profile on the main chart and a higher timeframe profile in a subwindow, both aligned by a draggable anchor and the visible range. You will learn keyboard-driven bin editing (E/S double-click), robust timeframe validation, viewport-aware updates, and object restoration to build a reliable, synchronized volume workflow.
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Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) in MQL5: Building a Complete Analysis Library

Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) in MQL5: Building a Complete Analysis Library

This article builds a complete Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) toolkit for MetaTrader 5 in pure MQL5. We cover phase-space reconstruction, time-delay embedding, distance and recurrence matrix construction, RQA metric extraction, automatic epsilon selection, and rolling-window computation through a modular library design. The article concludes by applying the library in a practical indicator that plots RR, DET, LAM, ENTR, and TREND directly on the chart, providing a solid foundation for nonlinear time-series analysis in MQL5.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Effective Feature Extraction for Accurate Classification (Mantis)

Neural Networks in Trading: Effective Feature Extraction for Accurate Classification (Mantis)

Meet Mantis — a lightweight foundation model for time series classification based on a Transformer architecture, featuring contrastive pre-training and hybrid attention that deliver record-breaking accuracy and scalability.
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Neural Networks in Trading: A Complex Trajectory Prediction Method (Traj-LLM)

Neural Networks in Trading: A Complex Trajectory Prediction Method (Traj-LLM)

In this article, I would like to introduce you to an interesting trajectory prediction method developed to solve problems in the field of autonomous vehicle movements. The authors of the method combined the best elements of various architectural solutions.
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From Basic to Intermediate: Operators

From Basic to Intermediate: Operators

In this article we will look at the main operators. Although the topic is simple to understand, there are certain points that are of great importance when it comes to including mathematical expressions in the code format. Without an adequate understanding of these details, programmers with little or no experience eventually give up trying to create their own solutions.
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Digital Signal Processing for Traders (Part 2): The Dominant Cycle, MAMA, and a Regime-Switching Expert Advisor

Digital Signal Processing for Traders (Part 2): The Dominant Cycle, MAMA, and a Regime-Switching Expert Advisor

In Part 2 we measure the market's dominant cycle using Ehlers' Hilbert-transform homodyne discriminator and wrap it as an indicator. We then build the MESA Adaptive Moving Average (MAMA) and its follower FAMA from that phase information. Finally, we combine MAMA/FAMA with the Even Better Sinewave to form a regime-switching Expert Advisor and test it on EURUSD in the Strategy Tester, giving you a complete, reproducible MQL5 implementation.
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DoEasy. Controls (Part 31): Scrolling the contents of the ScrollBar control

DoEasy. Controls (Part 31): Scrolling the contents of the ScrollBar control

In this article, I will implement the functionality of scrolling the contents of the container using the buttons of the horizontal scrollbar.
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Developing a Replay System (Part 70): Getting the Time Right (III)

Developing a Replay System (Part 70): Getting the Time Right (III)

In this article, we will look at how to use the CustomBookAdd function correctly and effectively. Despite its apparent simplicity, it has many nuances. For example, it allows you to tell the mouse indicator whether a custom symbol is on auction, being traded, or the market is closed. 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.
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Quantum Neural Network in MQL5 (Part III): A Virtual Quantum Processor Based on Qubits

Quantum Neural Network in MQL5 (Part III): A Virtual Quantum Processor Based on Qubits

The article focuses on creating a trading system with a real quantum simulator instead of mathematical analogies. The system uses 3 virtual qubits, quantum gates and superposition principles to analyze markets. It is implemented as a trading EA for MetaTrader 5 in MQL5. The main achievement is the transition from simulation to real quantum principles of financial information processing.
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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).
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Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for Synthetic Data in Financial Modeling (Part 1): Introduction to GANs and Synthetic Data in Financial Modeling

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for Synthetic Data in Financial Modeling (Part 1): Introduction to GANs and Synthetic Data in Financial Modeling

This article introduces traders to Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for generating Synthetic Financial data, addressing data limitations in model training. It covers GAN basics, python and MQL5 code implementations, and practical applications in finance, empowering traders to enhance model accuracy and robustness through synthetic data.
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Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 95): Reducing Memory Consumption in Transformer Models

Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 95): Reducing Memory Consumption in Transformer Models

Transformer architecture-based models demonstrate high efficiency, but their use is complicated by high resource costs both at the training stage and during operation. In this article, I propose to get acquainted with algorithms that allow to reduce memory usage of such models.
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MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 79): Using Gator Oscillator and Accumulation/Distribution Oscillator with Supervised Learning

MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 79): Using Gator Oscillator and Accumulation/Distribution Oscillator with Supervised Learning

In the last piece, we concluded our look at the pairing of the gator oscillator and the accumulation/distribution oscillator when used in their typical setting of the raw signals they generate. These two indicators are complimentary as trend and volume indicators, respectively. We now follow up that piece, by examining the effect that supervised learning can have on enhancing some of the feature patterns we had reviewed. Our supervised learning approach is a CNN that engages with kernel regression and dot product similarity to size its kernels and channels. As always, we do this in a custom signal class file that works with the MQL5 wizard to assemble an Expert Advisor.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 42): Model procrastination, reasons and solutions

Neural networks made easy (Part 42): Model procrastination, reasons and solutions

In the context of reinforcement learning, model procrastination can be caused by several reasons. The article considers some of the possible causes of model procrastination and methods for overcoming them.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Adaptive Detection of Market Anomalies (Final Part)

Neural Networks in Trading: Adaptive Detection of Market Anomalies (Final Part)

We continue to build the algorithms that form the basis of the DADA framework, which is an advanced tool for detecting anomalies in time series. This approach enables effective distinguishing random fluctuations from significant deviations. Unlike classical methods, DADA dynamically adapts to different data types, choosing the optimal compression level in each specific case.
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Eagle Strategy (ES)

Eagle Strategy (ES)

Eagle Strategy is an algorithm that mimics the eagle's two-phase hunting strategy: global search via Levy flights using Mantegna method, alternating with intense local exploitation using the firefly algorithm, a mathematically sound approach to balancing exploration and exploitation, and a bioinspired concept that combines two natural phenomena into a single computational method.
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Three MACD Filters on US_TECH100: Five Years of Broker Data

Three MACD Filters on US_TECH100: Five Years of Broker Data

This article tests three common filters on a standard MACD crossover for US_TECH100 H1 using five years of broker-native data. Filters are layered incrementally: regime, higher timeframe (HTF) alignment, and US session timing, to isolate each one's marginal impact. Results show session timing contributes far more than indicator refinements, while regime and HTF add little on their own. Includes a reproducible MQL5 regime classifier.
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Developing an MQTT client for MetaTrader 5: a TDD approach — Final

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

This article is the last part of a series describing our development steps of a native MQL5 client for the MQTT 5.0 protocol. Although the library is not production-ready yet, in this part, we will use our client to update a custom symbol with ticks (or rates) sourced from another broker. Please, see the bottom of this article for more information about the library's current status, what is missing for it to be fully compliant with the MQTT 5.0 protocol, a possible roadmap, and how to follow and contribute to its development.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Directional Diffusion Models (DDM)

Neural Networks in Trading: Directional Diffusion Models (DDM)

In this article, we discuss Directional Diffusion Models that exploit data-dependent anisotropic and directed noise in a forward diffusion process to capture meaningful graph representations.
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Reimagining Classic Strategies (Part IX): Multiple Time Frame Analysis (II)

Reimagining Classic Strategies (Part IX): Multiple Time Frame Analysis (II)

In today's discussion, we examine the strategy of multiple time-frame analysis to learn on which time frame our AI model performs best. Our analysis leads us to conclude that the Monthly and Hourly time-frames produce models with relatively low error rates on the EURUSD pair. We used this to our advantage and created a trading algorithm that makes AI predictions on the Monthly time frame, and executes its trades on the Hourly time frame.
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Creating Custom Indicators in MQL5 (Part 7): Hybrid Time Price Opportunity (TPO) Market Profiles for Session Analysis

Creating Custom Indicators in MQL5 (Part 7): Hybrid Time Price Opportunity (TPO) Market Profiles for Session Analysis

In this article, we develop a custom indicator in MQL5 for hybrid Time Price Opportunity (TPO) market profiles, supporting multiple session timeframes such as intraday, daily, weekly, monthly, and fixed periods with timezone adjustments. The indicator quantizes prices into a grid, tracks session data including highs, lows, opens, and closes, and calculates key elements like the point of control and value area based on TPO counts. It renders profiles visually on the chart with customizable colors for TPO letters, single prints, value areas, POC, and close markers, enabling detailed session analysis
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Event-Driven Architecture in MQL5: How to Turn an Expert Advisor into a Full-Fledged Trading System

Event-Driven Architecture in MQL5: How to Turn an Expert Advisor into a Full-Fledged Trading System

The article is dedicated to the event-driven architecture in MQL5 and describes the transition from the monolithic OnTick model to distributed processing. We will consider predefined and custom events, services and messaging between programs, as well as common architectural errors. A practical example demonstrates how to organize interactions between indicators and an EA to reduce load, improve readability, and simplify maintenance.
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From Basic to Intermediate: Variables (III)

From Basic to Intermediate: Variables (III)

Today we will look at how to use predefined MQL5 language variables and constants. In addition, we will analyze another special type of variables: functions. Knowing how to properly work with these variables can mean the difference between an application that works and one that doesn't. In order to understand what is presented here, it is necessary to understand the material that was discussed in previous articles.