plotshape() - Pine Script Function

plotshape()

Overview

plotshape() draws pre-defined glyphs—triangles, flags, labels, arrows—whenever a condition evaluates to true. It is a versatile alternative to plotchar() when you prefer consistent iconography or need text labels anchored to bars.

The `series` argument is treated as boolean for all locations except location.absolute. Use `location.absolute` when you need to position shapes at a specific price value.

Syntax

plotshape(series, title, style, location, color, offset, text, textcolor, editable, size, show_last, display, format, precision, force_overlay) → void

Parameters

Name	Type	Description
series	series int/float/bool	Determines whether a shape is drawn on each bar.
style	input shape (optional)	Glyph to draw (e.g., shape.triangleup, shape.labeldown). Defaults to shape.xcross.
location	input location (optional)	Placement relative to the bar (location.abovebar, location.belowbar, location.absolute, etc.).
color	series color (optional)	Fill color for the shape.
text	const string (optional)	Optional caption displayed inside label-style shapes or on hover.
size	const size (optional)	Glyph size ranging from size.tiny to size.huge.
offset	simple int (optional)	Horizontal shift in bars.

Other optional arguments (title, textcolor, editable, show_last, display, format, precision, force_overlay) mirror plot() defaults.

Remarks

• Shapes are hidden on bars where series evaluates to na.
• Label styles such as shape.labelup and shape.labeldown accept multiline text via \n.
• Combine plotshape() with display=display.none to generate handles for fill() or for toggling visibility through script inputs.

Example

//@version=5
indicator("plotshape() breakouts", overlay=true)

length = input.int(20, "Range lookback", minval=2)
upper = ta.highest(high, length)
lower = ta.lowest(low, length)

breakoutUp = ta.cross(close, upper)
breakoutDn = ta.cross(lower, close)

plotshape(breakoutUp,
    title="Breakout up",
    style=shape.triangleup,
    location=location.abovebar,
    color=color.new(color.green, 0),
    size=size.small,
    text="Range breakout")

plotshape(breakoutDn,
    title="Breakout down",
    style=shape.triangledown,
    location=location.belowbar,
    color=color.new(color.red, 0),
    size=size.small,
    text="Range breakdown")

See Also

• plot()
• plotchar()
• plotarrow()
• barcolor()
• bgcolor()