dateRange

The Date Range tool measures the distance in time between two points on your chart. It’s perfect for checking how long a run-up, pullback, or consolidation lasted. Think of it as a stopwatch placed between two candles.

Syntax (one line)

dateRange(fromPoint, toPoint, styles?)

Parameters

fromPoint (PricedData) · First anchor (time & price) where the measurement starts. toPoint (PricedData) · Second anchor (time & price) where the measurement ends. styles (PriceDateRangeLineToolOverrides) · Visual and label options (inherits all from PriceRangeLineToolOverrides, plus the border controls below):

• backgroundColor (RGBAColor | BaseColors) · Fill color behind the range.

• bold (boolean) · Make label text bold.

• color (RGBAColor | BaseColors) · Line/outline color of the range.

• extendLeft (boolean) · Extend the range box/line to the left.

• extendRight (boolean) · Extend the range box/line to the right.

• fillBackground (boolean) · Fill the background of the range area.

• fillLabelBackground (boolean) · Fill the label’s background box.

• fontSize (number) · Base font size for text.

• italic (boolean) · Italicize label text.

• labelBackgroundColor (RGBAColor | BaseColors) · Color for the label’s background.

• labelFontSize (number) · Font size for the label.

• labelTextColor (RGBAColor | BaseColors) · Text color inside the label.

• linewidth (number) · Thickness of the range outline.

• showLabel (boolean) · Show/hide the label that displays the duration.

• textcolor (RGBAColor | BaseColors) · General text color.

• transparency (number) · Transparency for fills (0=opaque, 100=transparent).

• showBorders (boolean) · Show borders around the range box.

• borderColor (RGBAColor | BaseColors) · Border color of the range box.

• borderWidth (number) · Border thickness of the range box.

Return Value

(string) · The drawing ID of the created Date Range.

Example

What this does: Every 52 candles, it measures time between two pivots (earlier and more recent), fills softly, shows a clear label, and draws a thin border.

//@version=1
init = () => {
  indicator({ onMainPanel: true, format: 'inherit' });
};

onTick = () => {
  // Draw occasionally so the chart stays clean
  if (index % 52 === 0) { // ← change 52 for more/less frequency
    // 1) Choose two anchors (only time matters here, price is just for the point)
    const from = newPoint(time(70), closeC(70));  // start time
    const to   = newPoint(time(18), closeC(18));  // end time

    // 2) Style (PriceDateRangeLineToolOverrides)
    const style = {
      color: color.blue,
      linewidth: 2,
      fillBackground: true,
      backgroundColor: color.rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.12),
      transparency: 85,
      showLabel: true,
      labelTextColor: color.white,
      labelBackgroundColor: color.rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.18),
      labelFontSize: 12,
      bold: true,
      // Extra date-range border controls
      showBorders: true,
      borderColor: color.blue,
      borderWidth: 1,
      // No extensions—measure just between points
      extendLeft: false,
      extendRight: false
    };

    // 3) Build the measurement
    dateRange(from, to, style);
  }
};

Tips

• Pair dateRange with priceRange on the same move to see both time and size at a glance.

• If labels feel crowded, reduce labelFontSize or increase transparency for a lighter fill.

• Use extendRight: true when you want the box to remain visible as new bars print.

Warning

• Don’t pass raw time() or price numbers directly—always wrap anchors with newPoint(time(offset), priceValue) or the drawing won’t be created.

Good Practice

• Keep a small set of presets (e.g., blue for rallies, red for pullbacks) so ranges are recognizable instantly.

• Use showBorders with a thin borderWidth for clarity without overpowering candles.