Articles with examples of trading robots developed in MQL5

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An Expert Advisor is the 'pinnacle' of programming and the desired goal of every automated trading developer. Read the articles in this section to create your own trading robot. By following the described steps you will learn how to create, debug and test automated trading systems.

The articles not only teach MQL5 programming, but also show how to implement trading ideas and techniques. You will learn how to program a trailing stop, how to apply money management, how to get the indicator values, and much more.

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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 14): A Beginner's Guide to Building Custom Indicators (III)

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 14): A Beginner's Guide to Building Custom Indicators (III)

Learn to build a Harmonic Pattern indicator in MQL5 using chart objects. Discover how to detect swing points, apply Fibonacci retracements, and automate pattern recognition.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 4): Mastering Structures, Classes, and Time Functions

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 4): Mastering Structures, Classes, and Time Functions

Unlock the secrets of MQL5 programming in our latest article! Delve into the essentials of structures, classes, and time functions, empowering your coding journey. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, our guide simplifies complex concepts, providing valuable insights for mastering MQL5. Elevate your programming skills and stay ahead in the world of algorithmic trading!
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Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 30): Creating a Price Action AB-CD Harmonic Pattern with Visual Feedback

Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 30): Creating a Price Action AB-CD Harmonic Pattern with Visual Feedback

In this article, we develop an AB=CD Pattern EA in MQL5 that identifies bullish and bearish AB=CD harmonic patterns using pivot points and Fibonacci ratios, executing trades with precise entry, stop loss, and take-profit levels. We enhance trader insight with visual feedback through chart objects.
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The MQL5 Standard Library Explorer (Part 1): Introduction with CTrade, CiMA, and CiATR

The MQL5 Standard Library Explorer (Part 1): Introduction with CTrade, CiMA, and CiATR

The MQL5 Standard Library plays a vital role in developing trading algorithms for MetaTrader 5. In this discussion series, our goal is to master its application to simplify the creation of efficient trading tools for MetaTrader 5. These tools include custom Expert Advisors, indicators, and other utilities. We begin today by developing a trend-following Expert Advisor using the CTrade, CiMA, and CiATR classes. This is an especially important topic for everyone—whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer. Join this discussion to discover more.
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From Novice to Expert: Navigating Market Irregularities

From Novice to Expert: Navigating Market Irregularities

Market rules are continuously evolving, and many once-reliable principles gradually lose their effectiveness. What worked in the past no longer works consistently over time. Today’s discussion focuses on probability ranges and how they can be used to navigate market irregularities. We will leverage MQL5 to develop an algorithm capable of trading effectively even in the choppiest market conditions. Join this discussion to find out more.
Working with GSM Modem from an MQL5 Expert Advisor
Working with GSM Modem from an MQL5 Expert Advisor

Working with GSM Modem from an MQL5 Expert Advisor

There is currently a fair number of means for a comfortable remote monitoring of a trading account: mobile terminals, push notifications, working with ICQ. But it all requires Internet connection. This article describes the process of creating an Expert Advisor that will allow you to stay in touch with your trading terminal even when mobile Internet is not available, through calls and text messaging.
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Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 13): Automation (V)

Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 13): Automation (V)

Do you know what a flowchart is? Can you use it? Do you think flowcharts are for beginners? I suggest that we proceed to this new article and learn how to work with flowcharts.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 28): Policy gradient algorithm

Neural networks made easy (Part 28): Policy gradient algorithm

We continue to study reinforcement learning methods. In the previous article, we got acquainted with the Deep Q-Learning method. In this method, the model is trained to predict the upcoming reward depending on the action taken in a particular situation. Then, an action is performed in accordance with the policy and the expected reward. But it is not always possible to approximate the Q-function. Sometimes its approximation does not generate the desired result. In such cases, approximation methods are applied not to utility functions, but to a direct policy (strategy) of actions. One of such methods is Policy Gradient.
MQL5 Cookbook: Handling Custom Chart Events
MQL5 Cookbook: Handling Custom Chart Events

MQL5 Cookbook: Handling Custom Chart Events

This article considers aspects of design and development of custom chart events system in the MQL5 environment. An example of an approach to the events classification can also be found here, as well as a program code for a class of events and a class of custom events handler.
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Neural Networks in Trading: A Hybrid Trading Framework with Predictive Coding (StockFormer)

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

In this article, we will discuss the hybrid trading system StockFormer, which combines predictive coding and reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms. The framework uses 3 Transformer branches with an integrated Diversified Multi-Head Attention (DMH-Attn) mechanism that improves on the vanilla attention module with a multi-headed Feed-Forward block, allowing it to capture diverse time series patterns across different subspaces.
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Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 48): Order Blocks, Inducement, Break of Structure

Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 48): Order Blocks, Inducement, Break of Structure

We implement an MQL5 expert advisor that detects order blocks formed after consolidation breakouts and confirms them with fair value gaps. Each zone is validated by a break of structure and a preceding inducement, then filtered by the higher-timeframe trend. The program adds mitigation tracking, risk-based lot sizing, and two trailing stop modes, providing clear on-chart visuals and backtest-ready trade execution logic.
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Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 14): Automation (VI)

Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 14): Automation (VI)

In this article, we will put into practice all the knowledge from this series. We will finally build a 100% automated and functional system. But before that, we still have to learn one last detail.
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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 8): A conceptual leap

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 8): A conceptual leap

What is the easiest way to implement new functionality? In this article, we will take one step back and then two steps forward.
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How to create a simple Multi-Currency Expert Advisor using MQL5 (Part 3): Added symbols prefixes and/or suffixes and Trading Time Session

How to create a simple Multi-Currency Expert Advisor using MQL5 (Part 3): Added symbols prefixes and/or suffixes and Trading Time Session

Several fellow traders sent emails or commented about how to use this Multi-Currency EA on brokers with symbol names that have prefixes and/or suffixes, and also how to implement trading time zones or trading time sessions on this Multi-Currency EA.
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Building AI-Powered Trading Systems in MQL5 (Part 1): Implementing JSON Handling for AI APIs

Building AI-Powered Trading Systems in MQL5 (Part 1): Implementing JSON Handling for AI APIs

In this article, we develop a JSON parsing framework in MQL5 to handle data exchange for AI API integration, focusing on a JSON class for processing JSON structures. We implement methods to serialize and deserialize JSON data, supporting various data types like strings, numbers, and objects, essential for communicating with AI services like ChatGPT, enabling future AI-driven trading systems by ensuring accurate data handling and manipulation.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 24): Improving the tool for Transfer Learning

Neural networks made easy (Part 24): Improving the tool for Transfer Learning

In the previous article, we created a tool for creating and editing the architecture of neural networks. Today we will continue working on this tool. We will try to make it more user friendly. This may see, top be a step away form our topic. But don't you think that a well organized workspace plays an important role in achieving the result.
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Implementing the Generalized Hurst Exponent and the Variance Ratio test in MQL5

Implementing the Generalized Hurst Exponent and the Variance Ratio test in MQL5

In this article, we investigate how the Generalized Hurst Exponent and the Variance Ratio test can be utilized to analyze the behaviour of price series in MQL5.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 19): Association rules using MQL5

Neural networks made easy (Part 19): Association rules using MQL5

We continue considering association rules. In the previous article, we have discussed theoretical aspect of this type of problem. In this article, I will show the implementation of the FP Growth method using MQL5. We will also test the implemented solution using real data.
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Understanding Programming Paradigms (Part 2): An Object-Oriented Approach to Developing a Price Action Expert Advisor

Understanding Programming Paradigms (Part 2): An Object-Oriented Approach to Developing a Price Action Expert Advisor

Learn about the object-oriented programming paradigm and its application in MQL5 code. This second article goes deeper into the specifics of object-oriented programming, offering hands-on experience through a practical example. You'll learn how to convert our earlier developed procedural price action expert advisor using the EMA indicator and candlestick price data to object-oriented code.
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Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 05): Manual triggers (II)

Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 05): Manual triggers (II)

Today we'll see how to create an Expert Advisor that simply and safely works in automatic mode. At the end of the previous article, I suggested that it would be appropriate to allow manual use of the EA, at least for a while.
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Build Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 5): Self Adapting Trading Rules

Build Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 5): Self Adapting Trading Rules

The best practices, defining how to safely us an indicator, are not always easy to follow. Quiet market conditions may surprisingly produce readings on the indicator that do not qualify as a trading signal, leading to missed opportunities for algorithmic traders. This article will suggest a potential solution to this problem, as we discuss how to build trading applications capable of adapting their trading rules to the available market data.
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Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 05): Turning MetaTrader 5 into a RAD system (I)

Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 05): Turning MetaTrader 5 into a RAD system (I)

There are a lot of people who do not know how to program but they are quite creative and have great ideas. However, the lack of programming knowledge prevents them from implementing these ideas. Let's see together how to create a Chart Trade using the MetaTrader 5 platform itself, as if it were an IDE.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 19): Automating Wolfe Wave Detection

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 19): Automating Wolfe Wave Detection

This article shows how to programmatically identify bullish and bearish Wolfe Wave patterns and trade them using MQL5. We’ll explore how to identify Wolfe Wave structures programmatically and execute trades based on them using MQL5. This includes detecting key swing points, validating pattern rules, and preparing the EA to act on the signals it finds.
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Self-Learning Expert Advisor with a Neural Network Based on a Markov State-Transition Matrix

Self-Learning Expert Advisor with a Neural Network Based on a Markov State-Transition Matrix

Self-training EA with a neural network based on a state matrix. We combine Markov chains with a multilayer neural network MLP developed using the ALGLIB MQL5 library. How can Markov chains and neural networks be combined for Forex forecasting?
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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 22): New order system (V)

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 22): New order system (V)

Today we will continue to develop the new order system. It is not that easy to implement a new system as we often encounter problems which greatly complicate the process. When these problems appear, we have to stop and re-analyze the direction in which we are moving.
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Building a Smart Trade Manager in MQL5: Automate Break-Even, Trailing Stop, and Partial Close

Building a Smart Trade Manager in MQL5: Automate Break-Even, Trailing Stop, and Partial Close

Learn how to build a Smart Trade Manager Expert Advisor in MQL5 that automates trade management with break-even, trailing stop, and partial close features. A practical, step-by-step guide for traders who want to save time and improve consistency through automation.
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Creating a Dynamic Multi-Symbol, Multi-Period Relative Strength Indicator (RSI) Indicator Dashboard in MQL5

Creating a Dynamic Multi-Symbol, Multi-Period Relative Strength Indicator (RSI) Indicator Dashboard in MQL5

In this article, we develop a dynamic multi-symbol, multi-period RSI indicator dashboard in MQL5, providing traders real-time RSI values across various symbols and timeframes. The dashboard features interactive buttons, real-time updates, and color-coded indicators to help traders make informed decisions.
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Experiments with neural networks (Part 5): Normalizing inputs for passing to a neural network

Experiments with neural networks (Part 5): Normalizing inputs for passing to a neural network

Neural networks are an ultimate tool in traders' toolkit. Let's check if this assumption is true. MetaTrader 5 is approached as a self-sufficient medium for using neural networks in trading. A simple explanation is provided.
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Graph Theory: Dijkstra's Algorithm Applied in Trading

Graph Theory: Dijkstra's Algorithm Applied in Trading

Dijkstra's algorithm, a classic shortest-path solution in graph theory, can optimize trading strategies by modeling market networks. Traders can use it to find the most efficient routes in the candlestick chart data.
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MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 19): Building an Interactive Tools Palette for Chart Drawing

MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 19): Building an Interactive Tools Palette for Chart Drawing

In this article, we build an interactive tools palette in MQL5 for chart drawing, with draggable, resizable panels and theme switching. We add buttons for tools like crosshair, trendlines, lines, rectangles, Fibonacci, text, and arrows, handling mouse events for activation and instructions. This system improves trading analysis through a customizable UI, supporting real-time interactions on charts
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Neural Networks in Trading: A Multi-Agent System with Conceptual Reinforcement (FinCon)

Neural Networks in Trading: A Multi-Agent System with Conceptual Reinforcement (FinCon)

We invite you to explore the FinCon framework, which is a a Large Language Model (LLM)-based multi-agent system. The framework uses conceptual verbal reinforcement to improve decision making and risk management, enabling effective performance on a variety of financial tasks.
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Ready-made templates for including indicators to Expert Advisors (Part 2): Volume and Bill Williams indicators

Ready-made templates for including indicators to Expert Advisors (Part 2): Volume and Bill Williams indicators

In this article, we will look at standard indicators of the Volume and Bill Williams' indicators category. We will create ready-to-use templates for indicator use in EAs - declaring and setting parameters, indicator initialization and deinitialization, as well as receiving data and signals from indicator buffers in EAs.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 25): Building an EA that Trades with Chart Objects (II)

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 25): Building an EA that Trades with Chart Objects (II)

This article explains how to build an Expert Advisor (EA) that interacts with chart objects, particularly trend lines, to identify and trade breakout and reversal opportunities. You will learn how the EA confirms valid signals, manages trade frequency, and maintains consistency with user-selected strategies.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 67): Using past experience to solve new tasks

Neural networks made easy (Part 67): Using past experience to solve new tasks

In this article, we continue discussing methods for collecting data into a training set. Obviously, the learning process requires constant interaction with the environment. However, situations can be different.
Marvel Your MQL5 Customers with a Usable Cocktail of Technologies!
Marvel Your MQL5 Customers with a Usable Cocktail of Technologies!

Marvel Your MQL5 Customers with a Usable Cocktail of Technologies!

MQL5 provides programmers with a very complete set of functions and object-oriented API thanks to which they can do everything they want within the MetaTrader environment. However, Web Technology is an extremely versatile tool nowadays that may come to the rescue in some situations when you need to do something very specific, want to marvel your customers with something different or simply you do not have enough time to master a specific part of MT5 Standard Library. Today's exercise walks you through a practical example about how you can manage your development time at the same time as you also create an amazing tech cocktail.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 32): Distributed Q-Learning

Neural networks made easy (Part 32): Distributed Q-Learning

We got acquainted with the Q-learning method in one of the earlier articles within this series. This method averages rewards for each action. Two works were presented in 2017, which show greater success when studying the reward distribution function. Let's consider the possibility of using such technology to solve our problems.
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Neural Networks in Trading: An Agent with Layered Memory

Neural Networks in Trading: An Agent with Layered Memory

Layered memory approaches that mimic human cognitive processes enable the processing of complex financial data and adaptation to new signals, thereby improving the effectiveness of investment decisions in dynamic markets.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 16): Practical use of clustering

Neural networks made easy (Part 16): Practical use of clustering

In the previous article, we have created a class for data clustering. In this article, I want to share variants of the possible application of obtained results in solving practical trading tasks.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 15): Data clustering using MQL5

Neural networks made easy (Part 15): Data clustering using MQL5

We continue to consider the clustering method. In this article, we will create a new CKmeans class to implement one of the most common k-means clustering methods. During tests, the model managed to identify about 500 patterns.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 8): Beginner's Guide to Building Expert Advisors (II)

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 8): Beginner's Guide to Building Expert Advisors (II)

This article addresses common beginner questions from MQL5 forums and demonstrates practical solutions. Learn to perform essential tasks like buying and selling, obtaining candlestick prices, and managing automated trading aspects such as trade limits, trading periods, and profit/loss thresholds. Get step-by-step guidance to enhance your understanding and implementation of these concepts in MQL5.