How to Add Indicators
Technical indicators are mathematical calculations applied to price and/or volume data that help traders identify trends, momentum, volatility, and potential reversals. TradingView offers over 100 built-in indicators and thousands of community-created ones.
Adding an Indicator to Your Chart
- 1Click the "Indicators" button (fx icon) in the top toolbar, or press the "/" key and switch to the Indicators tab
- 2Browse categories (Built-in, Community, My Scripts) or search by name
- 3Click on the indicator name to add it to your chart
- 4The indicator will appear either as an overlay on the price chart or in a separate panel below
- 5Click the gear icon on the indicator to customize its settings
Indicator Types
Indicators fall into several categories:
- Overlay indicators — appear on top of the price chart (Moving Averages, Bollinger Bands, Ichimoku)
- Oscillators — appear in separate panels below the chart (RSI, MACD, Stochastic)
- Volume indicators — analyze trading volume (Volume, OBV, Volume Profile)
- Volatility indicators — measure price volatility (ATR, Bollinger Bands)
- Trend indicators — identify trend direction and strength (ADX, Supertrend)
Customizing Indicator Settings
Every indicator has configurable parameters. Click the gear icon next to the indicator name to access settings. You can change calculation periods, colors, line styles, and display options. The "Style" tab lets you modify visual appearance, while the "Inputs" tab controls the mathematical parameters.
Warning
The free plan limits you to 3 indicators per chart. Use them wisely — one trend indicator, one momentum indicator, and volume is a solid starting combination.
Pro Tip
Use the "Favorites" star to bookmark indicators you use frequently. They'll appear at the top of your indicator list for quick access.
Key Takeaways
- Press the "fx" button or "/" key to open the indicator search
- Indicators are either overlays (on chart) or oscillators (separate panel)
- Customize parameters via the gear icon on each indicator
- Star your favorite indicators for quick access
- Free plan allows 3 indicators per chart — choose wisely