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Operators and Control Flow 🔄

Operators​

Arithmetic Operators​

//@version=5
indicator("Arithmetic Operators")

// Basic arithmetic
a = 10
b = 5

sum = a + b      // Addition
diff = a - b     // Subtraction
prod = a * b     // Multiplication
quot = a / b     // Division
mod = a % b      // Modulus

plot(sum)

Comparison Operators​

//@version=5
indicator("Comparison Operators")

price = close

isHigher = price > open          // Greater than
isLower = price < open          // Less than
isEqual = price == open         // Equal to
isNotEqual = price != open      // Not equal to
isGreaterEqual = price >= open  // Greater than or equal
isLessEqual = price <= open     // Less than or equal

plotchar(isHigher, "Higher", "▲", location.belowbar, color.green)

Logical Operators​

//@version=5
indicator("Logical Operators")

condition1 = close > open
condition2 = volume > volume[1]

andResult = condition1 and condition2  // Both conditions must be true
orResult = condition1 or condition2    // At least one condition must be true
notResult = not condition1            // Inverts the condition

plot(andResult ? 1 : 0)

Control Flow​

If Statements​

//@version=5
indicator("If Statements")

// Simple if
if (close > open)
    label.new(bar_index, high, "Bullish")

// If-else
if (close > open)
    label.new(bar_index, high, "Bullish")
else
    label.new(bar_index, low, "Bearish")

// If-else if-else
if (close > high[1])
    label.new(bar_index, high, "New High")
else if (close < low[1])
    label.new(bar_index, low, "New Low")
else
    label.new(bar_index, close, "Inside Bar")

Switch Statement​

//@version=5
indicator("Switch Example")

trend = switch
    close > high[1] => "Bullish"
    close < low[1] => "Bearish"
    => "Neutral"  // default case

label.new(bar_index, close, trend)

For Loops​

//@version=5
indicator("For Loop Example")

// Calculate average of last 5 closes
var float sum = 0.0
for i = 0 to 4
    sum := sum + close[i]
avgPrice = sum / 5

plot(avgPrice)

Conditional Operators​

Ternary Operator​

//@version=5
indicator("Ternary Operator")

// Syntax: condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false
color barColor = close > open ? color.green : color.red

plotcandle(open, high, low, close, color=barColor)

Practice Exercises​

1. Trend Classification​

//@version=5
indicator("Trend Classifier")

// Define conditions
isUptrend = close > open and close > close[1]
isDowntrend = close < open and close < close[1]

// Classify trend
trend = if isUptrend
    "Uptrend"
else if isDowntrend
    "Downtrend"
else
    "Sideways"

// Plot with different colors
plotchar(true, "Trend", "•", location.belowbar, 
    color = switch trend
        "Uptrend" => color.green
        "Downtrend" => color.red
        => color.gray)

2. Volume Analysis​

//@version=5
indicator("Volume Analysis")

// Calculate average volume
lengthInput = input(20, "Length")
avgVol = ta.sma(volume, lengthInput)

// Classify volume
volClass = switch
    volume >= avgVol * 2 => "Very High"
    volume >= avgVol * 1.5 => "High"
    volume <= avgVol * 0.5 => "Low"
    => "Normal"

// Plot volume bars with colors
plot(volume, style=plot.style_columns,
    color = switch volClass
        "Very High" => color.green
        "High" => color.lime
        "Low" => color.red
        => color.gray)
Pro Tips
  • Use switch statements for multiple conditions
  • Combine operators for complex conditions
  • Keep control flow structures simple
  • Use ternary operators for simple conditions

Common Pitfalls​

Watch Out For

❌ Forgetting break statements in switch ❌ Complex nested if statements ❌ Infinite loops ❌ Unnecessary complex conditions

Next Steps​

Now that you understand operators and control flow, let's move on to built-in variables in Pine Script! 🚀