Articles on the MQL5 programming and use of trading robots

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Expert Advisors created for the MetaTrader platform perform a variety of functions implemented by their developers. Trading robots can track financial symbols 24 hours a day, copy deals, create and send reports, analyze news and even provide specific custom graphical interface.

The articles describe programming techniques, mathematical ideas for data processing, tips on creating and ordering of trading robots.

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Controlling the Slope of Balance Curve During Work of an Expert Advisor
Controlling the Slope of Balance Curve During Work of an Expert Advisor

Controlling the Slope of Balance Curve During Work of an Expert Advisor

Finding rules for a trade system and programming them in an Expert Advisor is a half of the job. Somehow, you need to correct the operation of the Expert Advisor as it accumulates the results of trading. This article describes one of approaches, which allows improving performance of an Expert Advisor through creation of a feedback that measures slope of the balance curve.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Accelerator Oscillator

Learn how to design a trading system by Accelerator Oscillator

A new article from our series about how to create simple trading systems by the most popular technical indicators. We will learn about a new one which is the Accelerator Oscillator indicator and we will learn how to design a trading system using it.
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Build Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 4): Dynamic Position Sizing

Build Self Optimizing Expert Advisors in MQL5 (Part 4): Dynamic Position Sizing

Successfully employing algorithmic trading requires continuous, interdisciplinary learning. However, the infinite range of possibilities can consume years of effort without yielding tangible results. To address this, we propose a framework that gradually introduces complexity, allowing traders to refine their strategies iteratively rather than committing indefinite time to uncertain outcomes.
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Formulating Dynamic Multi-Pair EA (Part 5): Scalping vs Swing Trading Approaches

Formulating Dynamic Multi-Pair EA (Part 5): Scalping vs Swing Trading Approaches

This part explores how to design a Dynamic Multi-Pair Expert Advisor capable of adapting between Scalping and Swing Trading modes. It covers the structural and algorithmic differences in signal generation, trade execution, and risk management, allowing the EA to intelligently switch strategies based on market behavior and user input.
Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 73): Form object of a graphical element
Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 73): Form object of a graphical element

Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 73): Form object of a graphical element

The article opens up a new large section of the library for working with graphics. In the current article, I will create the mouse status object, the base object of all graphical elements and the class of the form object of the library graphical elements.
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Building and testing Keltner Channel trading systems

Building and testing Keltner Channel trading systems

In this article, we will try to provide trading systems using a very important concept in the financial market which is volatility. We will provide a trading system based on the Keltner Channel indicator after understanding it and how we can code it and how we can create a trading system based on a simple trading strategy and then test it on different assets.
A scientific approach to the development of trading algorithms
A scientific approach to the development of trading algorithms

A scientific approach to the development of trading algorithms

The article considers the methodology for developing trading algorithms, in which a consistent scientific approach is used to analyze possible price patterns and to build trading algorithms based on these patterns. Development ideals are demonstrated using examples.
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Brute force approach to pattern search (Part III): New horizons

Brute force approach to pattern search (Part III): New horizons

This article provides a continuation to the brute force topic, and it introduces new opportunities for market analysis into the program algorithm, thereby accelerating the speed of analysis and improving the quality of results. New additions enable the highest-quality view of global patterns within this approach.
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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 19): New order system (II)

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 19): New order system (II)

In this article, we will develop a graphical order system of the "look what happens" type. Please note that we are not starting from scratch this time, but we will modify the existing system by adding more objects and events on the chart of the asset we are trading.
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Everything you need to learn about the MQL5 program structure

Everything you need to learn about the MQL5 program structure

Any Program in any programming language has a specific structure. In this article, you will learn essential parts of the MQL5 program structure by understanding the programming basics of every part of the MQL5 program structure that can be very helpful when creating our MQL5 trading system or trading tool that can be executable in the MetaTrader 5.
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Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 14): Trade Layering Strategy with MACD-RSI Statistical Methods

Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 14): Trade Layering Strategy with MACD-RSI Statistical Methods

In this article, we introduce a trade layering strategy that combines MACD and RSI indicators with statistical methods to automate dynamic trading in MQL5. We explore the architecture of this cascading approach, detail its implementation through key code segments, and guide readers on backtesting to optimize performance. Finally, we conclude by highlighting the strategy’s potential and setting the stage for further enhancements in automated trading.
Practical Use of Kohonen Neural Networks in Algorithmic Trading. Part II. Optimizing and forecasting
Practical Use of Kohonen Neural Networks in Algorithmic Trading. Part II. Optimizing and forecasting

Practical Use of Kohonen Neural Networks in Algorithmic Trading. Part II. Optimizing and forecasting

Based on universal tools designed for working with Kohonen networks, we construct the system of analyzing and selecting the optimal EA parameters and consider forecasting time series. In Part I, we corrected and improved the publicly available neural network classes, having added necessary algorithms. Now, it is time to apply them to practice.
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Trailing stop in trading

Trailing stop in trading

In this article, we will look at the use of a trailing stop in trading. We will assess how useful and effective it is, and how it can be used. The efficiency of a trailing stop largely depends on price volatility and the selection of the stop loss level. A variety of approaches can be used to set a stop loss.
Prices in DoEasy library (Part 64): Depth of Market, classes of DOM snapshot and snapshot series objects
Prices in DoEasy library (Part 64): Depth of Market, classes of DOM snapshot and snapshot series objects

Prices in DoEasy library (Part 64): Depth of Market, classes of DOM snapshot and snapshot series objects

In this article, I will create two classes (the class of DOM snapshot object and the class of DOM snapshot series object) and test creation of the DOM data series.
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Introduction to Connexus (Part 1): How to Use the WebRequest Function?

Introduction to Connexus (Part 1): How to Use the WebRequest Function?

This article is the beginning of a series of developments for a library called “Connexus” to facilitate HTTP requests with MQL5. The goal of this project is to provide the end user with this opportunity and show how to use this helper library. I intended to make it as simple as possible to facilitate study and to provide the possibility for future developments.
Movement continuation model - searching on the chart and execution statistics
Movement continuation model - searching on the chart and execution statistics

Movement continuation model - searching on the chart and execution statistics

This article provides programmatic definition of one of the movement continuation models. The main idea is defining two waves — the main and the correction one. For extreme points, I apply fractals as well as "potential" fractals - extreme points that have not yet formed as fractals.
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Cascade Order Trading Strategy Based on EMA Crossovers for MetaTrader 5

Cascade Order Trading Strategy Based on EMA Crossovers for MetaTrader 5

The article guides in demonstrating an automated algorithm based on EMA Crossovers for MetaTrader 5. Detailed information on all aspects of demonstrating an Expert Advisor in MQL5 and testing it in MetaTrader 5 - from analyzing price range behaviors to risk management.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 29): Advantage Actor-Critic algorithm

Neural networks made easy (Part 29): Advantage Actor-Critic algorithm

In the previous articles of this series, we have seen two reinforced learning algorithms. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. As often happens in such cases, next comes the idea to combine both methods into an algorithm, using the best of the two. This would compensate for the shortcomings of each of them. One of such methods will be discussed in this article.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 27): Deep Q-Learning (DQN)

Neural networks made easy (Part 27): Deep Q-Learning (DQN)

We continue to study reinforcement learning. In this article, we will get acquainted with the Deep Q-Learning method. The use of this method has enabled the DeepMind team to create a model that can outperform a human when playing Atari computer games. I think it will be useful to evaluate the possibilities of the technology for solving trading problems.
Deep Neural Networks (Part III). Sample selection and dimensionality reduction
Deep Neural Networks (Part III). Sample selection and dimensionality reduction

Deep Neural Networks (Part III). Sample selection and dimensionality reduction

This article is a continuation of the series of articles about deep neural networks. Here we will consider selecting samples (removing noise), reducing the dimensionality of input data and dividing the data set into the train/val/test sets during data preparation for training the neural network.
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Integrating AI model into already existing MQL5 trading strategy

Integrating AI model into already existing MQL5 trading strategy

This topic focuses on incorporating a trained AI model (such as a reinforcement learning model like LSTM or a machine learning-based predictive model) into an existing MQL5 trading strategy.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 6): Experimenting with the neural network learning rate

Neural networks made easy (Part 6): Experimenting with the neural network learning rate

We have previously considered various types of neural networks along with their implementations. In all cases, the neural networks were trained using the gradient decent method, for which we need to choose a learning rate. In this article, I want to show the importance of a correctly selected rate and its impact on the neural network training, using examples.
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Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 04): Advancing to an Expert Advisor

Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 04): Advancing to an Expert Advisor

In my previous articles, I have explained how to create an indicator with multiple subwindows, which becomes interesting when using custom indicators. This time we will see how to add multiple windows to an Expert Advisor.
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How to create a trading journal with MetaTrader and Google Sheets

How to create a trading journal with MetaTrader and Google Sheets

Create a trading journal using MetaTrader and Google Sheets! You will learn how to sync your trading data via HTTP POST and retrieve it using HTTP requests. In the end, You have a trading journal that will help you keep track of your trades effectively and efficiently.
Using Layouts and Containers for GUI Controls: The CGrid Class
Using Layouts and Containers for GUI Controls: The CGrid Class

Using Layouts and Containers for GUI Controls: The CGrid Class

This article presents an alternative method of GUI creation based on layouts and containers, using one layout manager — the CGrid class. The CGrid class is an auxiliary control that acts as a container for other containers and controls using a grid layout.
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Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 6): Mean Reversion Signal Reaper

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 6): Mean Reversion Signal Reaper

While some concepts may seem straightforward at first glance, bringing them to life in practice can be quite challenging. In the article below, we'll take you on a journey through our innovative approach to automating an Expert Advisor (EA) that skillfully analyzes the market using a mean reversion strategy. Join us as we unravel the intricacies of this exciting automation process.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 26): Building an EA Using Support and Resistance Zones

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 26): Building an EA Using Support and Resistance Zones

This article teaches you how to build an MQL5 Expert Advisor that automatically detects support and resistance zones and executes trades based on them. You’ll learn how to program your EA to identify these key market levels, monitor price reactions, and make trading decisions without manual intervention.
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Creating Graphical Panels Became Easy in MQL5

Creating Graphical Panels Became Easy in MQL5

In this article, we will provide a simple and easy guide to anyone who needs to create one of the most valuable and helpful tools in trading which is the graphical panel to simplify and ease doing tasks around trading which helps to save time and focus more on your trading process itself without any distractions.
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Testing different Moving Average types to see how insightful they are

Testing different Moving Average types to see how insightful they are

We all know the importance of the Moving Average indicator for a lot of traders. There are other Moving average types that can be useful in trading, we will identify these types in this article and make a simple comparison between each one of them and the most popular simple Moving average type to see which one can show the best results.
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MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 3): Building a Multi-Timeframe Scanner Dashboard for Strategic Trading

MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 3): Building a Multi-Timeframe Scanner Dashboard for Strategic Trading

In this article, we build a multi-timeframe scanner dashboard in MQL5 to display real-time trading signals. We plan an interactive grid interface, implement signal calculations with multiple indicators, and add a close button. The article concludes with backtesting and strategic trading benefits
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Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 96): Multi-Scale Feature Extraction (MSFformer)

Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 96): Multi-Scale Feature Extraction (MSFformer)

Efficient extraction and integration of long-term dependencies and short-term features remain an important task in time series analysis. Their proper understanding and integration are necessary to create accurate and reliable predictive models.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Bull's Power

Learn how to design a trading system by Bull's Power

Welcome to a new article in our series about learning how to design a trading system by the most popular technical indicator as we will learn in this article about a new technical indicator and how we can design a trading system by it and this indicator is the Bull's Power indicator.
MQL5 Cookbook - Multi-Currency Expert Advisor and Working with Pending Orders in MQL5
MQL5 Cookbook - Multi-Currency Expert Advisor and Working with Pending Orders in MQL5

MQL5 Cookbook - Multi-Currency Expert Advisor and Working with Pending Orders in MQL5

This time we are going to create a multi-currency Expert Advisor with a trading algorithm based on work with the pending orders Buy Stop and Sell Stop. This article considers the following matters: trading in a specified time range, placing/modifying/deleting pending orders, checking if the last position was closed at Take Profit or Stop Loss and control of the deals history for each symbol.
Optimization. A Few Simple Ideas
Optimization. A Few Simple Ideas

Optimization. A Few Simple Ideas

The optimization process can require significant resources of your computer or even of the MQL5 Cloud Network test agents. This article comprises some simple ideas that I use for work facilitation and improvement of the MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester. I got these ideas from the documentation, forum and articles.
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Building a Research-Grounded Grid EA in MQL5: Why Most Grid EAs Fail and What Taranto Proved

Building a Research-Grounded Grid EA in MQL5: Why Most Grid EAs Fail and What Taranto Proved

This article implements a regime-adaptive grid trading EA based on the PhD research of Aldo Taranto. It presents a regime‑adaptive grid trading EA that constrains risk through restartable cycles and equity‑based safeguards. We explain why naive grids fail (variance growth and almost‑sure ruin), derive the loss formula for real‑time exposure, and implement regime‑aware gating, ATR‑dynamic spacing, and a live kill switch. Readers get the mathematical tools and production patterns needed to build, test, and operate a constrained grid safely.
Raise Your Linear Trading Systems to the Power
Raise Your Linear Trading Systems to the Power

Raise Your Linear Trading Systems to the Power

Today's article shows intermediate MQL5 programmers how they can get more profit from their linear trading systems (Fixed Lot) by easily implementing the so-called technique of exponentiation. This is because the resulting equity curve growth is then geometric, or exponential, taking the form of a parabola. Specifically, we will implement a practical MQL5 variant of the Fixed Fractional position sizing developed by Ralph Vince.
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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 21): New order system (IV)

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 21): New order system (IV)

Finally, the visual system will start working, although it will not yet be completed. Here we will finish making the main changes. There will be quite a few of them, but they are all necessary. Well, the whole work will be quite interesting.
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Introduction to MQL5 (Part 17): Building Expert Advisors for Trend Reversals

Introduction to MQL5 (Part 17): Building Expert Advisors for Trend Reversals

This article teaches beginners how to build an Expert Advisor (EA) in MQL5 that trades based on chart pattern recognition using trend line breakouts and reversals. By learning how to retrieve trend line values dynamically and compare them with price action, readers will be able to develop EAs capable of identifying and trading chart patterns such as ascending and descending trend lines, channels, wedges, triangles, and more.
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How to create a custom Donchian Channel indicator using MQL5

How to create a custom Donchian Channel indicator using MQL5

There are many technical tools that can be used to visualize a channel surrounding prices, One of these tools is the Donchian Channel indicator. In this article, we will learn how to create the Donchian Channel indicator and how we can trade it as a custom indicator using EA.
Social Trading with the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 Trading Platforms
Social Trading with the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 Trading Platforms

Social Trading with the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 Trading Platforms

What is social trading? It is a mutually beneficial cooperation of traders and investors whereby successful traders allow monitoring of their trading and potential investors take the opportunity to monitor their performance and copy trades of those who look more promising.