init

What is it?

The Init method is triggered a single time when your custom indicator is first loaded onto the chart. This is where you prepare everything the indicator needs before it starts running — such as setting its name, declaring variables, configuring inputs, and defining how results will be displayed.

Syntax

init = () => {
    // one-time setup logic here
}

What Happens in Init

Think of Init as the launch pad for your strategy. Common tasks include:

• Assigning the strategy’s name and description.

• Creating variables and buffers to hold calculated values.

• Defining and registering user input parameters.

• Configuring visual settings like plots, colors, or line types.

Example

//@version=1
// This is a template for a custom indicator. 
// You can use this as a starting point to create your own custom indicator.

// This is the setup function.
// Here you can define the input parameters for the indicator.
init = () => {
    input.bool('show draws', true, 'show');
    input.bool('extend fvg', true, 'extend');
}

Why It Matters

Without Init, your strategy has no foundation — no parameters, no variables, no configuration. It’s the setup phase that ensures everything is ready before the first market tick arrives.

💡 Tip: Group related settings together in Init so they’re easier to find and adjust later. This makes your code more organized and saves time when making changes.

Warning

Don’t put trading logic or price calculations in Init. This method runs only once when the strategy loads, so any market checks here won’t update during execution.

Good Practice

Keep Init focused on configuration — setting names, creating inputs, and initializing variables. This keeps your startup process clean and makes your strategy easier to debug later.

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