How to code a time with date input in TradingView's Pine Script?

How to code a time with date input in TradingView’s Pine Script?

TL;DR
Combine input.time() with timestamp() to capture user-selected moments and drive time-based logic in your scripts.

At a Glance

Difficulty	Beginner
Time to implement	10-15 min
Category	Inputs

Quick Actions

• Open in AI Editor
• Browse PineScript Examples
• Connect to Live Trading

Quick Start

//@version=5
indicator("Time input demo", overlay=true)

startTime = input.time(timestamp("2024-01-01T09:30:00"), "Start")
isAfter  = time >= startTime

bgcolor(isAfter ? color.new(color.teal, 85) : na)

Tip. `input.time()` returns a Unix timestamp in milliseconds. Use `timestamp()` (or ISO strings in v5) to supply readable defaults.

Why It Matters

Time inputs let users specify when scripts should start trading, draw lines, or highlight sessions. They’re ideal for backtest windows, launch dates, or marking events.

What You’ll Learn

• Creating time inputs with friendly defaults and tooltips
• Converting user-selected timestamps into visual markers or logic triggers
• Building date ranges with pairs of input.time()
• Handling missing or future dates safely

Quick Reference

Call	Purpose
input.time(defval, title, tooltip, group, inline, confirm, timezone)	Creates a time selector in the settings panel.
timestamp(year, month, day, hour, minute)	Produces readable defaults for time inputs.
line.new, bgcolor, alertcondition	Common consumers of time input values.
input.session	Combine with time input to build complex schedules.

Implementation Blueprint

1. Create the input with a sensible default
   Use timestamp() or ISO strings for readability.

   startDate = input.time(timestamp("2024-01-01T00:00:00"), "Start date")

2. Apply logic or drawing at the selected time
   Compare time against the input to trigger actions.

   if time == startDate
       label.new(bar_index, high, "Start", style=label.style_label_down)

3. Optionally define end times or ranges
   Use two inputs to create date windows for analysis/backtesting.

   endDate = input.time(timestamp("2024-02-01T00:00:00"), "End date")
   inRange = time >= startDate and time <= endDate

Example Playbook

//@version=5
indicator("Time input range", overlay=true)

startDate = input.time(timestamp("2023-01-01T09:30:00"), "Range start", tooltip="First bar to highlight")
endDate   = input.time(timestamp("2023-01-31T16:00:00"), "Range end", tooltip="Last bar to highlight")

inRange = time >= startDate and time <= endDate
bgcolor(inRange ? color.new(color.orange, 80) : na)

if inRange and barstate.islastconfirmedhistory
    alert("Current bar inside selected range")

Why this works.

• Users can adjust the start/end timestamps without editing code.
• The range logic highlights exactly the bars between the chosen dates.
• Alerts leverage the same inputs for flexible scheduling.

Pro Tips & Pitfalls

• Time inputs use the chart’s time zone unless you set the timezone argument explicitly.
• Use confirm=true if a change should require user confirmation (prevents accidental recalculations).
• Pair with input.session or input.bool to build more advanced schedules.
• Guard against startDate > endDate by swapping or using math.min/max.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Why doesn’t my script trigger at the selected time?

Check that you compare against the instrument’s exchange time (all Pine time functions are exchange-based). Also ensure the bar resolution is fine-grained enough to include the specified timestamp.

Can I allow users to pick only a date (no time)?

input.time() always stores milliseconds; simply default the time to 00:00 and ignore the time portion in your logic if only the date matters.

Key Takeaways

• input.time() gives users direct control over when code should run or highlight data.
• Use pairs of time inputs to define custom analysis windows or backtest periods.
• Combine with visual cues (labels, backgrounds) and alerts for interactive workflows.

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Keep Going

• Open AI Editor to apply the pattern with guided assistance
• Browse PineScript Examples for ready-to-run templates
• Connect to Live Trading when you are ready to automate

Adapted from tradingcode.net, optimised for Algo Trade Analytics users.