Complete .mq5 source code
MQL5 Automated Trading Strategy: Hub Guide to All EA Types
This hub page covers the full spectrum of MQL5 automated trading strategies, from trend-following and mean-reversion EAs to grid, scalping, and multi-timeframe systems. Whether you are building your first Expert Advisor or scaling a professional trading robot, this guide maps every EA archetype to its core logic and MQL5 implementation pattern.
Strategy logic
Entry conditions
Entry logic varies by EA archetype: trend EAs enter on moving average crossovers or breakouts confirmed by momentum indicators such as MACD or ADX; mean-reversion EAs enter when price deviates beyond a Bollinger Band or RSI extreme. Grid and scalping EAs place orders at fixed price intervals or on micro-structure signals like spread compression and tick velocity.
Exit conditions
Exit logic is equally archetype-specific: trend EAs close on counter-signal or trailing stop breach; mean-reversion EAs target a fixed return-to-mean distance with a hard stop beyond the outer band. Grid systems close the full basket when cumulative profit reaches a threshold, while scalping EAs use tight fixed take-profit and stop-loss levels measured in points.
MQL5 Expert Advisor Code
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| MQL5 Automated Trading Hub — Dual MA Crossover EA |
//| Demonstrates the canonical OnInit / OnTick / OnDeinit pattern |
//| suitable as a starting template for any trend-following EA. |
//| |
//| DISCLAIMER: For educational purposes only. Past performance |
//| does not guarantee future results. Always test on a demo account.|
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Pineify.app"
#property version "1.00"
#property strict
//--- Input parameters
input int FastMAPeriod = 20; // Fast MA period
input int SlowMAPeriod = 50; // Slow MA period
input ENUM_MA_METHOD MAMethod = MODE_EMA; // MA smoothing method
input double LotSize = 0.10; // Trade volume in lots
input int StopLossPips = 80; // Stop-loss in pips
input int TakeProfitPips = 160; // Take-profit in pips
input int MagicNumber = 20240001; // Unique EA identifier
input string TradeComment = "HubEA"; // Order comment
//--- Global handles and state
int g_fastHandle = INVALID_HANDLE;
int g_slowHandle = INVALID_HANDLE;
double g_pipSize = 0.0;
bool g_tradeAllowed = false;
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialisation |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
{
//--- Validate periods
if(FastMAPeriod >= SlowMAPeriod)
{
Print("ERROR: FastMAPeriod must be less than SlowMAPeriod.");
return(INIT_PARAMETERS_INCORRECT);
}
//--- Create indicator handles
g_fastHandle = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, FastMAPeriod, 0, MAMethod, PRICE_CLOSE);
g_slowHandle = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, SlowMAPeriod, 0, MAMethod, PRICE_CLOSE);
if(g_fastHandle == INVALID_HANDLE || g_slowHandle == INVALID_HANDLE)
{
Print("ERROR: Failed to create MA handles.");
return(INIT_FAILED);
}
//--- Calculate pip size (handles 3/5-digit brokers)
int digits = (int)SymbolInfoInteger(_Symbol, SYMBOL_DIGITS);
g_pipSize = (digits == 3 || digits == 5)
? SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_POINT) * 10.0
: SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_POINT);
g_tradeAllowed = true;
Print("Hub EA initialised on ", _Symbol, " | FastMA=", FastMAPeriod, " SlowMA=", SlowMAPeriod);
return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick handler |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
{
if(!g_tradeAllowed) return;
//--- Only act on the close of a new bar to avoid multiple entries
static datetime s_lastBarTime = 0;
datetime currentBarTime = (datetime)SeriesInfoInteger(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, SERIES_LASTBAR_DATE);
if(currentBarTime == s_lastBarTime) return;
s_lastBarTime = currentBarTime;
//--- Copy MA buffers (need 2 values to detect crossover)
double fastMA[], slowMA[];
ArraySetAsSeries(fastMA, true);
ArraySetAsSeries(slowMA, true);
if(CopyBuffer(g_fastHandle, 0, 0, 3, fastMA) < 3) return;
if(CopyBuffer(g_slowHandle, 0, 0, 3, slowMA) < 3) return;
//--- Detect crossover
bool bullCross = (fastMA[1] > slowMA[1]) && (fastMA[2] <= slowMA[2]);
bool bearCross = (fastMA[1] < slowMA[1]) && (fastMA[2] >= slowMA[2]);
//--- Count existing positions for this EA
int buyCount = CountPositions(POSITION_TYPE_BUY);
int sellCount = CountPositions(POSITION_TYPE_SELL);
//--- Close opposite positions on crossover before opening new one
if(bullCross && sellCount > 0) CloseAllPositions(POSITION_TYPE_SELL);
if(bearCross && buyCount > 0) CloseAllPositions(POSITION_TYPE_BUY);
//--- Open new position if none exists in signal direction
if(bullCross && buyCount == 0)
OpenPosition(ORDER_TYPE_BUY);
else if(bearCross && sellCount == 0)
OpenPosition(ORDER_TYPE_SELL);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deinitialization |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
{
if(g_fastHandle != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(g_fastHandle);
if(g_slowHandle != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(g_slowHandle);
g_tradeAllowed = false;
PrintFormat("Hub EA removed. Reason code: %d", reason);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Open a buy or sell position with SL/TP |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OpenPosition(ENUM_ORDER_TYPE orderType)
{
MqlTradeRequest request = {};
MqlTradeResult result = {};
double ask = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
double bid = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
double sl, tp;
if(orderType == ORDER_TYPE_BUY)
{
sl = NormalizeDouble(ask - StopLossPips * g_pipSize, _Digits);
tp = NormalizeDouble(ask + TakeProfitPips * g_pipSize, _Digits);
request.price = ask;
}
else
{
sl = NormalizeDouble(bid + StopLossPips * g_pipSize, _Digits);
tp = NormalizeDouble(bid - TakeProfitPips * g_pipSize, _Digits);
request.price = bid;
}
request.action = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
request.symbol = _Symbol;
request.volume = LotSize;
request.type = orderType;
request.sl = sl;
request.tp = tp;
request.magic = MagicNumber;
request.comment = TradeComment;
request.type_filling = ORDER_FILLING_IOC;
if(!OrderSend(request, result))
PrintFormat("OrderSend failed. Error: %d | Retcode: %d", GetLastError(), result.retcode);
else
PrintFormat("Position opened: %s | Ticket: %d | Price: %.5f | SL: %.5f | TP: %.5f",
EnumToString(orderType), result.order, result.price, sl, tp);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Count open positions by direction for this EA |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int CountPositions(ENUM_POSITION_TYPE posType)
{
int count = 0;
for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
{
ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
if(ticket == 0) continue;
if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) != _Symbol) continue;
if((long)PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC) != MagicNumber) continue;
if((ENUM_POSITION_TYPE)PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TYPE) == posType)
count++;
}
return count;
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Close all positions of a given direction for this EA |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void CloseAllPositions(ENUM_POSITION_TYPE posType)
{
for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
{
ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
if(ticket == 0) continue;
if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) != _Symbol) continue;
if((long)PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC) != MagicNumber) continue;
if((ENUM_POSITION_TYPE)PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TYPE) != posType) continue;
MqlTradeRequest request = {};
MqlTradeResult result = {};
request.action = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
request.symbol = _Symbol;
request.volume = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_VOLUME);
request.type = (posType == POSITION_TYPE_BUY) ? ORDER_TYPE_SELL : ORDER_TYPE_BUY;
request.price = (posType == POSITION_TYPE_BUY)
? SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID)
: SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
request.position = ticket;
request.magic = MagicNumber;
request.comment = TradeComment + "_close";
request.type_filling = ORDER_FILLING_IOC;
if(!OrderSend(request, result))
PrintFormat("Close failed for ticket %d. Error: %d", ticket, GetLastError());
}
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+Copy this code into MetaEditor, save it in the MQL5/Experts folder, and compile with F7.
Generate a custom Multi-pair hub EA
Describe the ATR inputs, alert rules, visual style, or confirmation filter you want. Pineify generates editable MQL5 source code that you can inspect and compile in MetaEditor.
Pine Script vs MQL5: Same Strategy, Different Platforms
| Aspect | Pine Script (TradingView) | MQL5 (MetaTrader 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Execution | Series evaluated on chart updates | Event handlers with explicit buffers |
| Deployment | Runs in TradingView with alerts | Runs in the MT5 terminal or on a VPS |
| Broker access | Via TradingView broker integration | Direct broker connectivity |
| Backtesting | Strategy Tester for strategy scripts | Strategy Tester for Expert Advisors |
| Code complexity | Simpler, functional syntax | C++-like, more powerful |
The calculation can be implemented on either platform, but the runtime model and buffer APIs differ. Read the Pine Script Supertrend reference before porting logic between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related MQL5 pages
Risk and testing note
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Backtest statistics are based on historical data and do not guarantee future profits. Trading involves significant risk of loss. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.