# ADL > Accumulation/Distribution Line — a cumulative volume-flow line that > weights each bar's volume by where its close fell within the range. ## Quick reference | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Family | Volume | | Input type | `Candle` (uses `high`, `low`, `close`, `volume`) | | Output type | `f64` | | Output range | unbounded (drifts with cumulative volume) | | Default parameters | none (no parameters) | | Warmup period | `1` | | Interpretation | Running buying/selling pressure; slope and divergence matter. | ## Formula ``` MFM_t = ((close − low) − (high − close)) / (high − low) (money-flow multiplier, −1..+1) MFV_t = MFM_t · volume_t (money-flow volume) ADL_t = ADL_{t−1} + MFV_t ``` The money-flow multiplier asks *where in the bar's range did price close?* A close on the high gives `+1` (full accumulation), on the low `−1` (full distribution), in the middle `0`. Scaling by volume and running the cumulative total gives a line whose **slope** reflects sustained buying or selling pressure. A bar with `high == low` carries no positional information and contributes `0`. ## Parameters `ADL` takes **no parameters** — `Adl::new()` in Rust, `wickra.ADL()` in Python, `new ta.ADL()` in Node. ## Inputs / Outputs From `crates/wickra-core/src/indicators/adl.rs`: ```rust impl Indicator for Adl { type Input = Candle; type Output = f64; // update(&mut self, input: Candle) -> Option } ``` `ADL` is a **candle-input** indicator: it reads `high`, `low`, `close` and `volume`. In Python the streaming `update` accepts a 6-tuple or a dict; the batch helper takes `high`, `low`, `close`, `volume` numpy arrays. Node and WASM expose `update(high, low, close, volume)` and the matching `batch`. ## Warmup `Adl::new().warmup_period() == 1`. ADL is cumulative — it emits a value from the very first candle. ## Edge cases - **Zero-range bar.** A bar with `high == low` contributes `0` to the line (`zero_range_bar_contributes_nothing` pins this). - **Close at the high.** Every bar closing on its high has `MFM = +1`, so ADL grows by exactly `volume` each bar (`close_at_high_accumulates_full_volume` pins this). - **Candle validation.** `Candle::new` rejects invalid bars upstream. - **Reset.** `adl.reset()` returns the running total to `0`. ## Examples ### Rust ```rust use wickra::{BatchExt, Candle, Indicator, Adl}; fn main() -> Result<(), Box> { let mut adl = Adl::new(); let out = adl.batch(&[ Candle::new(8.0, 10.0, 8.0, 10.0, 100.0, 0)?, // close at high Candle::new(10.0, 12.0, 8.0, 9.0, 200.0, 1)?, ]); println!("{:?}", out); Ok(()) } ``` Output: ``` [Some(100.0), Some(0.0)] ``` Bar 1 closes at its high (`MFM = +1`), adding `+100`. Bar 2 has `MFM = ((9−8)−(12−9))/4 = −0.5`, adding `−100`, so the line returns to `0`. This matches the `reference_values` test in `crates/wickra-core/src/indicators/adl.rs`. ### Python ```python import numpy as np import wickra as ta adl = ta.ADL() high = np.array([10.0, 12.0]) low = np.array([8.0, 8.0]) close = np.array([10.0, 9.0]) volume = np.array([100.0, 200.0]) print(adl.batch(high, low, close, volume)) ``` Output: ``` [100. 0.] ``` ### Node ```javascript const ta = require('wickra'); const adl = new ta.ADL(); console.log(adl.batch([10, 12], [8, 8], [10, 9], [100, 200])); ``` Output: ``` [ 100, 0 ] ``` ## Interpretation `Adl` is read by slope and by divergence, never by absolute level (the total drifts arbitrarily with cumulative volume). A rising ADL confirms that an up-move is backed by accumulation; a *falling* ADL while price rises is a bearish divergence — the rally is not being bought into. [`ChaikinOscillator`](../volume/Indicator-ChaikinOscillator.md) is the standard way to turn the ADL into a bounded, tradeable oscillator. ## Common pitfalls - **Reading the absolute value.** Only the slope and divergences are meaningful; the level depends on where you started the stream. - **Feeding it scalar prices.** It needs the full OHLCV bar. ## References Marc Chaikin's Accumulation/Distribution Line; the money-flow-multiplier formulation here matches the standard definition (StockCharts, TA-Lib's `AD`). ## See also - [Indicator-Obv.md](../volume/Indicator-Obv.md) — cumulative *signed* volume. - [Indicator-ChaikinOscillator.md](../volume/Indicator-ChaikinOscillator.md) — an oscillator built on the ADL. - [Indicators-Overview.md](../../Indicators-Overview.md) — the full taxonomy.