Operators

This section documents the operator functions.

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*

Multiplies two numerical values or expressions.

Syntax:

expr1 * expr2

Examples:

// Basic multiplication
$BTC.close * 1.05

// Multiply indicator values
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) * 2

// Complex expressions
($BTC.high + $BTC.low) * 0.5

// Using with historical data
$BTC.close[1] * ta.sma($BTC, 20)

Returns: Numerical value or series of values

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/

Divides one numerical value by another.

Syntax:

expr1 / expr2

Examples:

// Price ratio
$BTC.close / $BTC.open

// Indicator normalization
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) / 100

// Average calculation
($BTC.high + $BTC.low + $BTC.close) / 3

// Volume analysis
$BTC.volume / ta.sma($BTC.volume, 20)

Returns: Numerical value or series of values

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%

Returns the remainder after division (integer remainder).

Syntax:

expr1 % expr2

Examples:

// Check if volume is even/odd
$BTC.volume % 2

// Cycle detection
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) % 10

// Time-based patterns
$BTC.close % 100

Returns: Numerical value or series of values

Note: The result has the same sign as the dividend (first operand).

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+

Adds two numerical values or concatenates strings.

Syntax:

expr1 + expr2

Examples:

// Price addition
$BTC.high + $BTC.low

// Indicator combination
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) + ta.rsi($ETH, 14)

// String concatenation (in payloads)
"Price: " + $BTC.close

// Offset calculations
$BTC.close + ($BTC.close * 0.02)

Returns:

• For numbers: Numerical value or series of values

• For strings: Concatenated string

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-

Subtracts one numerical value from another, or negates a value (unary).

Syntax:

expr1 - expr2  // Binary subtraction
-expr          // Unary negation

Examples:

// Price difference
$BTC.close - $BTC.open

// Indicator delta
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) - 50

// Unary negation
-ta.roc($BTC, 10)

// Historical comparison
$BTC.close - $BTC.close[1]

Returns: Numerical value or series of values

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<

Tests if the left operand is less than the right operand.

Syntax:

expr1 < expr2

Examples:

// Price comparison
$BTC.close < $BTC.open

// Indicator thresholds
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) < 30

// Cross-asset comparison
$BTC.close < $ETH.close * 20

// Historical comparison
ta.sma($BTC, 10) < ta.sma($BTC, 50)

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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<=

Tests if the left operand is less than or equal to the right operand.

Syntax:

expr1 <= expr2

Examples:

// Boundary conditions
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) <= 30

// Price levels
$BTC.close <= ta.sma($BTC, 20)

// Volume analysis
$BTC.volume <= ta.sma($BTC.volume, 10)

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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==

Tests if two expressions are equal.

Syntax:

expr1 == expr2

Examples:

// Exact matches
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) == 50

// String comparison (in payloads)
symbol == "$BTC"

// Boolean comparison
ta.crossover(ta.sma($BTC, 10), ta.sma($BTC, 20)) == true

// Rounded comparisons
math.round($BTC.close) == 50000

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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>

Tests if the left operand is greater than the right operand.

Syntax:

expr1 > expr2

Examples:

// Bullish conditions
$BTC.close > $BTC.open

// Overbought detection
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > 70

// Breakout detection
$BTC.close > ta.bb($BTC, 20, 2).upper

// Volume surge
$BTC.volume > ta.sma($BTC.volume, 20) * 2

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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>=

Tests if the left operand is greater than or equal to the right operand.

Syntax:

expr1 >= expr2

Examples:

// Support levels
$BTC.close >= ta.sma($BTC, 200)

// Momentum conditions
ta.macd($BTC, 12, 26, 9).histogram >= 0

// Threshold conditions
ta.atr($BTC, 14) >= 1000

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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and

Logical AND operation. Returns true only if both operands are true.

Syntax:

expr1 and expr2

Examples:

// Multiple conditions
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > 70 and $BTC.volume > ta.sma($BTC.volume, 20)

// Complex combinations
ta.crossover(ta.sma($BTC, 10), ta.sma($BTC, 50)) and ta.rsi($BTC, 14) < 70

// Nested conditions
$BTC.close > $BTC.open and ta.macd($BTC).histogram > 0 and $BTC.volume > ta.sma($BTC.volume, 10)

Note: Also supports JavaScript syntax && for compatibility.

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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or

Logical OR operation. Returns true if at least one operand is true.

Syntax:

expr1 or expr2

Examples:

// Alternative conditions
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) < 30 or ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > 70

// Breakout signals
$BTC.close > ta.bb($BTC).upper or $BTC.close < ta.bb($BTC).lower

// Multi-asset signals
ta.crossover(ta.sma($BTC, 10), ta.sma($BTC, 50)) or ta.crossover(ta.sma($ETH, 10), ta.sma($ETH, 50))

Note: Also supports JavaScript syntax || for compatibility.

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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not

Logical NOT operation. Inverts the boolean value.

Syntax:

not expr

Examples:

// Negation
not ta.crossunder(ta.sma($BTC, 10), ta.sma($BTC, 50))

// Condition negation
not (ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > 70)

// Complex negation
not ($BTC.close < $BTC.open and $BTC.volume < ta.sma($BTC.volume, 10))

Note: Also supports JavaScript syntax ! for compatibility.

Returns: Boolean value (true or false)

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? :

Conditional (ternary) operator. Returns one of two values based on a condition.

Syntax:

condition ? valueIfTrue : valueIfFalse

Examples:

// Simple conditional
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > 70 ? "Overbought" : "Normal"

// Signal direction
$BTC.close > $BTC.open ? "Buy" : "Sell"

// Dynamic thresholds
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > ($BTC.volume > 1000000 ? 75 : 70) ? "Strong Sell" : "Hold"

// Payload expressions
"Action: " + (ta.crossover(ta.sma($BTC, 10), ta.sma($BTC, 50)) ? "Enter Long" : "Wait")

Returns: The value of either the second or third operand, depending on the condition

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[]

Access historical values from price data and technical indicators using bracket notation.

Syntax:

series[index]

Index Values:

• [0] - Current value (latest)

• [1] - Previous value (1 period ago)

• [2] - 2 periods ago

• [n] - n periods ago

• [500] - 500 periods ago (max)

Examples:

// Price comparison
$BTC.close > $BTC.close[1]  // Current price higher than previous

// Volume spike detection
$BTC.volume > $BTC.volume[1] * 1.5  // Volume 50% higher than previous

// RSI momentum
ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > ta.rsi($BTC, 14)[1]  // RSI increasing

// Multi-period analysis
ta.rsi($BTC, 14)[5] < 30 and ta.rsi($BTC, 14) > 50  // RSI recovery from oversold

// MACD historical comparison
ta.macd($BTC, 12, 26, 9).histogram > ta.macd($BTC, 12, 26, 9).histogram[1]

Important Notes:

• Historical access works with all price data (open, high, low, close, volume)

• Historical access works with all technical indicators

• Index [0] is optional - $BTC.close equals $BTC.close[0]

• Maximum lookback limit is 500 - accessing beyond this throws an error

• Use reasonable lookback periods (1-50) for most trading strategies