Cody Zig ZagCody Zig Zag Indicator - Complete Explanation
This is a Zig Zag indicator that replicates the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) version, which works differently than TradingView's built-in Zig Zag. Here's what it does:
🎯 What is a Zig Zag Indicator?
It filters out minor price movements to show only significant swing highs and swing lows, helping you identify trends and chart patterns (head & shoulders, double tops/bottoms, etc.).
⚙️ User Settings (Inputs)
Setting Default What It Does
Depth 6 Lookback period to find local highs/lows
Deviation 5 Minimum price change (in ticks) to form a new swing point
Backstep 2 Minimum bars between swing points
Line Thickness 2 Zig Zag line width
Bull Color Lime Color for upward moves
Bear Color Red Color for downward moves
Repaint Levels true If ON, lines/labels adjust real-time; if OFF, they lock on close
🔍 How It Works (The "Bake" Section)
Step 1: Find Potential Pivot Points
p_lw = Most recent low within Depth bars
p_hg = Most recent high within Depth bars
Checks if price moved enough (Deviation * tick size) to qualify
Step 2: Determine Direction
down = Boolean (true = bearish/downward leg, false = bullish/upward leg)
Tracks whether we're connecting a high→low (down) or low→high (up)
Step 3: Draw Zig Zag Lines
Connects alternating swing highs and swing lows
Labels each point as:
HH = Higher High
LH = Lower High
LL = Lower Low
HL = Higher Low
🏷️ Labels Explained
When price makes a new swing point, you'll see:
HH (Higher High) - Bullish continuation signal
LH (Lower High) - Bearish reversal signal
LL (Lower Low) - Bearish continuation signal
HL (Higher Low) - Bullish reversal signal
📊 Visual Features
Colored Zig Zag lines: Green for up-legs, Red for down-legs
Background color: Green during bullish legs, Red during bearish legs (90% transparent)
Labels: Tiny triangles pointing up/down with text
⚠️ Repaint Behavior (Important!)
Repaint = ON (default) Repaint = OFF
Lines/labels update in real-time Locks on bar close
Can "repaint" history More reliable for backtesting
Good for real-time trading No historical repainting
Warning: Zig Zag indicators naturally repaint because they need future bars to confirm pivot points. The repaint option controls HOW they repaint.
🚨 Alerts
This script triggers alerts when:
Direction Changed - Zig Zag switches from up to down or down to up
Bullish Direction - Switches from down to up
Bearish Direction - Switches from up to down
📈 How to Use
Identify Trend: Upward Zig Zag = Uptrend; Downward = Downtrend
Find Patterns: Look for HH/HL patterns (bullish) or LH/LL patterns (bearish)
Divergence: Compare Zig Zag swings with oscillator indicators
Support/Resistance: Swing points act as natural S/R levels
⚡ Quick Summary
This indicator draws a line connecting significant price swings, ignoring small noise. It's great for:
Visualizing trend structure
Identifying chart patterns
Finding entry/exit levels
Spotting trend reversals
Indicador Pine Script®






















