MQL5 Programming Articles

We will create an indicator based on the Gann's Square of 9, built by squaring time and price. We will prepare the code and test the indicator in the platform on different time intervals.

These advanced gradient-boosted decision tree techniques offer superior performance and flexibility, making them ideal for financial modeling and algorithmic trading. Learn how to leverage these tools to optimize your trading strategies, improve predictive accuracy, and gain a competitive edge in the financial markets.

This article continues the series for beginners. Here we will discuss the basic principles of developing Expert Advisors (EAs). We will create two EAs: the first one will trade without indicators, using pending orders, and the second one will be based on the standard MA indicator, opening deals at the current price. Here I assume that you are no longer a complete beginner and have a relatively good command of the material from the previous articles.

How to access online data via MetaTrader 5? There are a lot of websites and places on the web, featuring a huge amount information. What you need to know is where to look and how best to use this information.

In this article, I will make an attempt to consider some ways of building non-linear indicators and their use in trading. There are quite a few indicators in the MetaTrader trading platform that use non-linear approaches.

This article describes four methods for connecting MQL5 code to a Postgres database and provides a step-by-step tutorial for setting up a development environment for one of them, a REST API, using the Windows Subsystem For Linux (WSL). A demo app for the API is provided along with the corresponding MQL5 code to insert data and query the respective tables, as well as a demo Expert Advisor to consume this data.

In this article, we will explore the application of all classification models available in the Scikit-Learn library to solve the classification task of Fisher's Iris dataset. We will attempt to convert these models into ONNX format and utilize the resulting models in MQL5 programs. Additionally, we will compare the accuracy of the original models with their ONNX versions on the full Iris dataset.

This article outlines the design of a double moving average crossover strategy that uses signals from a higher timeframe (D1) to guide entries on a lower timeframe (M15), with stop-loss levels calculated from an intermediate risk timeframe (H4). It introduces system constants, custom enumerations, and logic for trend-following and mean-reverting modes, while emphasizing modularity and future optimization using a genetic algorithm. The approach allows for flexible entry and exit conditions, aiming to reduce signal lag and improve trade timing by aligning lower-timeframe entries with higher-timeframe trends.

The extent of liquidity zones and the magnitude of the breakout range are key variables that substantially affect the probability of a retest occurring. In this discussion, we outline the complete process for developing an indicator that incorporates these ratios.

Before we can even begin to make use of ML in our trading on MetaTrader 5, it’s crucial to address one of the most overlooked pitfalls—data leakage. This article unpacks how data leakage, particularly the MetaTrader 5 timestamp trap, can distort our model's performance and lead to unreliable trading signals. By diving into the mechanics of this issue and presenting strategies to prevent it, we pave the way for building robust machine learning models that deliver trustworthy predictions in live trading environments.

Learn to create and customize chart objects in MQL5 using current and historical data. This project-based guide helps you visualize trades and apply MQL5 concepts practically, making it easier to build tools tailored to your trading needs.

There are quite a lot of different trading strategies. So, it might be useful to apply several strategies working in parallel to diversify risks and increase the stability of trading results. But if each strategy is implemented as a separate Expert Advisor (EA), then managing their work on one trading account becomes much more difficult. To solve this problem, it would be reasonable to implement the operation of different trading strategies within a single EA.

Financial markets are typically classified as either in a range mode or a trending mode. This static view of the market may make it easier for us to trade in the short run. However, it is disconnected from the reality of the market. In this article, we look to better understand how exactly financial markets move between these 2 possible modes and how we can use our new understanding of market behavior to gain confidence in our algorithmic trading strategies.

Moving average cross-overs are widely known by traders in our community, and yet the core of the strategy has changed very little since its inception. In this discussion, we will present you with a slight adjustment to the original strategy, that aims to minimize the lag present in the trading strategy. All fans of the original strategy, could consider revising the strategy in accordance with the insights we will discuss today. By using 2 moving averages with the same period, we reduce the lag in the trading strategy considerably, without violating the foundational principles of the strategy.

Higher-timeframe CRT ranges are informative, yet traders often execute on lower timeframes without that context. We implement an MQL5 indicator that reads higher-timeframe OHLC, projects the full candle range, body, and wicks onto the active lower-timeframe chart, and marks entries, stops, and targets. This improves situational awareness and removes the need to switch windows.

In this article, we will explore the third part of our journey in formulating a Dynamic Multi-Pair Expert Advisor (EA), focusing specifically on integrating Mean Reversion and Momentum trading strategies. We will break down how to detect and act on price deviations from the mean (Z-score), and how to measure momentum across multiple forex pairs to determine trade direction.

Just because ticks are constantly flowing in doesn’t mean every moment is an opportunity to trade. Today, we take an in-depth study into the art of timing—focusing on developing a time isolation algorithm to help traders identify and trade within their most favorable market windows. Cultivating this discipline allows retail traders to synchronize more closely with institutional timing, where precision and patience often define success. Join this discussion as we explore the science of timing and selective trading through the analytical capabilities of MQL5.

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.

This study introduces a novel methodology for the development of trend-following trading strategies. This section describes the process of annotating training data and using it to train classifiers. This process yields fully operational trading systems designed to run on MetaTrader 5.

This phase fine-tunes your multi-pair EA to adapt trade size and risk in real time using volatility metrics like ATR boosting consistency, protection, and performance across diverse market conditions.

Todays trader is a philomath who is almost always looking up new ideas, trying them out, choosing to modify them or discard them; an exploratory process that should cost a fair amount of diligence. These series of articles will proposition that the MQL5 wizard should be a mainstay for traders.

In this article, we explore the automation of the Cypher harmonic pattern in MQL5, detailing its detection and visualization on MetaTrader 5 charts. We implement an Expert Advisor that identifies swing points, validates Fibonacci-based patterns, and executes trades with clear graphical annotations. The article concludes with guidance on backtesting and optimizing the program for effective trading.