Charting Guide

TradingView Charts: Complete Guide

Master TradingView's powerful charting platform - from basic navigation to advanced features and pro tips

Why TradingView?

TradingView is the world's most popular charting platform, used by millions of traders and investors. It offers powerful charts, hundreds of indicators, real-time data, and a vibrant community - all accessible from any web browser.

Whether you're analyzing stocks, forex, crypto, or futures, TradingView provides the tools you need. This guide covers everything from basic chart navigation to advanced features that will improve your technical analysis.

Chart Basics

Navigating the Interface

Symbol Search: Click the symbol in the top-left or press / to search for any ticker.

Timeframe: Click the timeframe button or use shortcuts (1 for 1min, D for daily, W for weekly).

Chart Type: Choose from candlesticks, bars, line, Heikin Ashi, and more.

Zoom: Use mouse scroll, +/- keys, or drag the time axis to zoom.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt + T - Trendline tool

Alt + H - Horizontal line

Alt + F - Fibonacci retracement

Alt + V - Vertical line

Alt + I - Invert colors

Alt + S - Screenshot

/ - Symbol search

Space - Play/pause replay mode

Drawing Tools

Access drawing tools from the left sidebar. Click and hold to see tool variations.

📏

Trendlines

Draw support/resistance lines, channels, and trend angles. Hold Shift for perfect 45-degree angles.

📐

Fibonacci Tools

Retracements, extensions, time zones, and fans for identifying key price levels.

📦

Shapes

Rectangles, circles, and triangles for marking zones, patterns, and consolidation areas.

✏️

Text & Notes

Add annotations, labels, and callouts to document your analysis and trade ideas.

📊

Pitchforks

Andrews' Pitchfork and variations for channel-based trend analysis.

🎯

Price Range

Measure price movements, calculate percentages, and analyze risk/reward ratios.

Working with Indicators

Adding Indicators

Click the Indicators button (fx icon) in the top toolbar or press / and type the indicator name.

Popular Built-in Indicators

Trend Indicators

- Moving Averages (SMA, EMA, WMA)
- MACD
- Supertrend
- Ichimoku Cloud

Oscillators

- RSI (Relative Strength Index)
- Stochastic
- CCI (Commodity Channel Index)
- Williams %R

Volatility

- Bollinger Bands
- ATR (Average True Range)
- Keltner Channels
- Standard Deviation

Volume

- Volume Profile
- OBV (On Balance Volume)
- VWAP
- Money Flow Index

Understanding Timeframes

Choosing the Right Timeframe

Scalping / Day Trading

1m, 5m, 15m charts for entries. 1H for trend direction. Focus on quick moves within the day.

Swing Trading

1H, 4H for entries. Daily for trend. Hold positions for days to weeks.

Position Trading

Daily, Weekly charts. Monthly for major trends. Hold for weeks to months.

Multi-Timeframe Analysis

Use TradingView's multi-chart layout to view multiple timeframes simultaneously. A common approach: use a higher timeframe to identify the trend, then a lower timeframe to time entries.

Layouts & Workspaces

Save Layouts - Save your chart setup with all drawings and indicators. Access from the layout dropdown.

Multi-Chart Layouts - View 2, 4, or 8 charts simultaneously (paid plans). Great for watching multiple pairs or timeframes.

Chart Templates - Save indicator combinations as templates. Apply your favorite setup to any chart instantly.

Watchlists - Create custom watchlists organized by market, strategy, or sector. Click to quickly switch charts.

Sync Crosshairs - Enable crosshair sync across charts to compare price action at the same point in time.

Symbol Sync - Link charts so changing the symbol on one updates all linked charts automatically.

Pro Tips

Alerts

Set price alerts, indicator alerts, and drawing alerts. Get notified via app, email, SMS, or webhook. Free accounts get 1 active alert.

Replay Mode

Practice trading with historical data. Click the Replay button, select a date, and step through candles to test your strategy.

Compare Symbols

Overlay multiple symbols on one chart to compare performance. Click Compare or + to add symbols as overlays or in separate panes.

Pine Script

Create custom indicators and strategies with TradingView's Pine Script language. Access the editor from the bottom panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TradingView free to use?

Yes, TradingView offers a free Basic plan with essential charting features. Free users get 1 chart per tab, 2 indicators per chart, and delayed data for some markets. Paid plans (Essential, Plus, Premium) unlock more features like multiple charts, more indicators, and real-time data. Note that TradingView updates features periodically - check their official site for current limits.

What are the best indicators on TradingView?

Popular indicators include Moving Averages (SMA, EMA), RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, and Volume Profile. TradingView also has thousands of community-built indicators. The best indicators depend on your trading style - trend followers prefer moving averages, while swing traders often use RSI and MACD.

Can I trade directly from TradingView?

Yes, TradingView integrates with many brokers for direct trading. Supported brokers include OANDA, Forex.com, TradeStation, and others. You can place, modify, and close trades directly on the chart. Paper trading is also available for practice.

How do I save my TradingView layouts?

Click the layout dropdown in the top toolbar and select "Save Layout As" to create a named layout. Your drawings, indicators, and chart settings are saved. You can create multiple layouts for different trading strategies or markets. Layouts sync across devices when logged in.

What is Pine Script on TradingView?

Pine Script is TradingView's programming language for creating custom indicators and strategies. You can build your own indicators, backtest trading strategies, and set custom alerts. It's beginner-friendly compared to other programming languages.

Information accurate as of December 2025. Verify current rates and terms with providers directly.

Last updated: December 2025