Conditional Statements#

if / else#

Pine Script conditional syntax is similar to most programming languages:

if condition
    // executed when condition is true
else if anotherCondition
    // executed when anotherCondition is true
else
    // executed when none of the above conditions are true

Note: Pine Script uses indentation (spaces or tabs) to delimit code blocks, similar to Python. Indentation must be consistent; 4 spaces is recommended.

Example — marking bullish/bearish signals on the chart based on price vs. moving average:

//@version=6
indicator("MA Trend Signal", overlay=true)

maLength = input.int(20, "MA Period")
ma = ta.sma(close, maLength)

plot(ma, "MA", color=color.orange)

if close > ma
    label.new(bar_index, low, "▲", color=color.green, textcolor=color.white, style=label.style_label_up)
else if close < ma
    label.new(bar_index, high, "▼", color=color.red, textcolor=color.white, style=label.style_label_down)

if as an Expression#

In Pine Script, if can be used as an expression that directly returns a value:

// Traditional style
var color barColor = na
if close > open
    barColor := color.green
else
    barColor := color.red

// Using if as an expression (more concise)
barColor = if close > open
    color.green
else
    color.red

barcolor(barColor)

Ternary Operator#

The ternary operator ? : is a shorthand for if/else, suitable for simple two-choice conditions:

// Syntax: condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false

barColor = close > open ? color.green : color.red
barcolor(barColor)

Ternary operators can be nested, but too many levels reduce readability:

// Three colors: green for up, red for down, gray for flat
barColor = close > open ? color.green :
           close < open ? color.red :
           color.gray
barcolor(barColor)

Comparison Operators#

Operator	Description	Example
`==`	Equal to	`close == open`
`!=`	Not equal to	`close != close[1]`
`>`	Greater than	`close > ma`
`>=`	Greater than or equal to	`rsi >= 70`
`<`	Less than	`close < ma`
`<=`	Less than or equal to	`rsi <= 30`

Logical Operators#

Operator	Description	Example
`and`	Both conditions must be true	`close > ma and rsi > 50`
`or`	Either condition must be true	`close > high[1] or volume > avgVolume`
`not`	Negates the condition	`not na(rsiValue)`

Practical Example: Golden Cross Signal#

Using the short-term MA crossing above the long-term MA (golden cross) as an example to demonstrate a complete conditional flow:

//@version=6
indicator("Golden Cross / Death Cross", overlay=true)

fastLength = input.int(5,  "Fast MA")
slowLength = input.int(20, "Slow MA")

fastMA = ta.sma(close, fastLength)
slowMA = ta.sma(close, slowLength)

plot(fastMA, "Fast MA", color=color.blue)
plot(slowMA, "Slow MA", color=color.orange)

// ta.crossover(a, b): a crosses above b (golden cross)
// ta.crossunder(a, b): a crosses below b (death cross)
goldenCross = ta.crossover(fastMA, slowMA)
deathCross  = ta.crossunder(fastMA, slowMA)

if goldenCross
    label.new(bar_index, low, "Golden", color=color.green, textcolor=color.white, style=label.style_label_up)

if deathCross
    label.new(bar_index, high, "Death", color=color.red, textcolor=color.white, style=label.style_label_down)

switch Statement#

When there are many conditional branches, switch is cleaner than multiple if/else if chains:

//@version=6
indicator("Trend Detection")

maFast  = ta.sma(close, 5)
maMid   = ta.sma(close, 20)
maSlow  = ta.sma(close, 60)

// Bullish alignment: fast > mid > slow
// Bearish alignment: fast < mid < slow
// Otherwise: consolidation

trendLabel = switch
    maFast > maMid and maMid > maSlow => "Bullish Alignment"
    maFast < maMid and maMid < maSlow => "Bearish Alignment"
    => "Consolidation"

// Display current trend on the rightmost bar
if barstate.islast
    label.new(bar_index, high, trendLabel, style=label.style_label_left)

CH04: Conditional Statements