Table of Contents
Introduction to Pine Script
Pine Script is TradingView's proprietary programming language designed specifically for creating custom technical indicators and trading strategies. Whether you're a beginner trader or an experienced developer, Pine Script offers a powerful yet accessible way to automate your trading analysis.
Why Learn Pine Script?
No more manual calculations
Build exactly what you need
Test before you trade
Let the computer do the work
Remove human emotion from analysis
Pine Script Basics
Pine Script is built on a simple but powerful concept: every script runs on each bar of your chart, allowing you to analyze price data and make decisions based on your custom logic.
Core Concepts
Bars
Each candle/bar represents a time period (1m, 5m, 1h, 1d, etc.)
Variables
Store and manipulate data throughout your script
Functions
Built-in tools for calculations and analysis
Conditions
If/then logic to make trading decisions
Your First Pine Script
Let's create a simple moving average indicator to understand the basic structure of Pine Script:
📈 Simple Moving Average Indicator
//@version=5
indicator("Simple MA", overlay=true)
// Input parameters
length = input.int(20, "MA Length", minval=1)
// Calculate moving average
ma = ta.sma(close, length)
// Plot the line
plot(ma, color=color.blue, linewidth=2)This simple script creates a 20-period moving average that plots on your chart.
Advanced Features
Once you've mastered the basics, explore these advanced Pine Script features:
Arrays
Store and manipulate multiple values efficiently
Functions
Create reusable code blocks for complex calculations
Alerts
Get notified when conditions are met
Strategy
Backtest and automate trading strategies
Best Practices
Follow these guidelines to create robust, efficient, and maintainable Pine Scripts:
✅ Do's
- • Use meaningful variable names
- • Add comments to explain logic
- • Test on multiple timeframes
- • Handle edge cases
- • Use proper error handling
❌ Don'ts
- • Don't ignore repaint issues
- • Don't use hardcoded values
- • Don't forget to validate inputs
- • Don't ignore performance
- • Don't skip backtesting
Common Functions
Essential Pine Script functions you'll use frequently:
Technical Analysis
- • ta.sma() - Simple Moving Average
- • ta.ema() - Exponential Moving Average
- • ta.rsi() - Relative Strength Index
- • ta.macd() - MACD Indicator
Math Functions
- • math.abs() - Absolute Value
- • math.max() - Maximum Value
- • math.min() - Minimum Value
- • math.round() - Round to Integer
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to fix them:
Script Won't Compile
- • Check for missing semicolons
- • Verify all brackets are closed
- • Ensure variable names are valid
- • Check Pine Script version compatibility
Repainting Issues
- • Avoid using future data
- • Use barstate.isconfirmed for signals
- • Test on historical data
- • Use calc_on_every_tick=false when possible
Conclusion
Pine Script is a powerful tool that can transform your trading approach. By mastering these fundamentals, you'll be able to create custom indicators and strategies that match your unique trading style.
🚀 Ready to Take Your Trading to the Next Level?
Our Momentum Master v1 script combines advanced Pine Script techniques with proven trading strategies to help you identify high-probability trading opportunities.