# TSI > True Strength Index — a double-smoothed momentum oscillator that strips > noise while keeping a clean, zero-centred read on trend pressure. ## Quick reference | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Family | Momentum Oscillators | | Input type | `f64` (single close) | | Output type | `f64` | | Output range | roughly `[−100, 100]`, centred on zero | | Default parameters | `(long = 25, short = 13)` (Python) | | Warmup period | `long + short` | | Interpretation | Positive = net upward pressure, negative = net downward. | ## Formula ``` momentum_t = price_t − price_{t−1} TSI = 100 · EMA_short(EMA_long(momentum)) / EMA_short(EMA_long(|momentum|)) ``` The 1-bar momentum and its absolute value are each smoothed twice — first with an EMA of length `long`, then with an EMA of length `short`. The ratio of the two double-smoothed series normalises the result: when every recent move is up, numerator and denominator are equal and TSI saturates at `+100`; when every move is down, at `−100`. ## Parameters | Name | Type | Default | Valid range | Description | |---------|---------|---------------|-------------|-------------| | `long` | `usize` | `25` (Python) | `>= 1` | First (slow) smoothing length. `0` errors with `Error::PeriodZero`. | | `short` | `usize` | `13` (Python) | `>= 1` | Second (fast) smoothing length. `0` errors with `Error::PeriodZero`. | The Python binding defaults the pair to `(25, 13)` via `#[pyo3(signature = (long=25, short=13))]`. Node and WASM take both explicitly. The `periods` property returns `(long, short)`. ## Inputs / Outputs From `crates/wickra-core/src/indicators/tsi.rs`: ```rust impl Indicator for Tsi { type Input = f64; type Output = f64; // update(&mut self, input: f64) -> Option } ``` A single `f64` close in, an `Option` out. Python maps this to `float | None` / `numpy.ndarray` (NaN warmup); Node to `number | null` / `Array` (NaN warmup). ## Warmup `Tsi::new(long, short).warmup_period() == long + short`. The momentum series starts on input 2; the SMA-seeded `long` EMA seeds at input `long + 1`, and the `short` EMA stacked on top seeds `short − 1` inputs later, so the first non-`None` output lands on input `long + short`. ## Edge cases - **Pure trend.** A monotone rising series saturates at `+100`, a falling one at `−100` — `|momentum|` equals `momentum` (or its negative), so the ratio is `±1` (`pure_uptrend_saturates_at_plus_100` / `pure_downtrend_saturates_at_minus_100` pin this). - **Constant series.** Every momentum is `0`; the `0 / 0` is guarded and the output is `0.0` (`constant_series_yields_zero` pins this). - **NaN / infinity inputs.** Non-finite inputs are silently dropped; the smoothing chains are not advanced. - **Reset.** `tsi.reset()` clears the previous price and all four EMAs. ## Examples ### Rust ```rust use wickra::{BatchExt, Indicator, Tsi}; fn main() -> Result<(), Box> { let prices: Vec = (1..=40).map(f64::from).collect(); let mut tsi = Tsi::new(5, 3)?; let out = tsi.batch(&prices); println!("warmup_period = {}", tsi.warmup_period()); println!("last = {:?}", out.last().unwrap()); Ok(()) } ``` Output: ``` warmup_period = 8 last = Some(100.0) ``` A pure ramp has a constant `+1` momentum, so the double-smoothed ratio is exactly `1` and TSI saturates at `+100`. This matches the `pure_uptrend_saturates_at_plus_100` test in `crates/wickra-core/src/indicators/tsi.rs`. ### Python ```python import numpy as np import wickra as ta tsi = ta.TSI() # (long=25, short=13) prices = np.linspace(100.0, 80.0, 60) # steady downtrend out = tsi.batch(prices) print("last =", out[-1]) ``` Output: ``` last = -100.0 ``` ### Node ```javascript const ta = require('wickra'); const tsi = new ta.TSI(25, 13); const prices = Array.from({ length: 60 }, (_, i) => 100 + i); console.log('last:', tsi.batch(prices).at(-1)); ``` ## Interpretation `Tsi` is a low-noise momentum oscillator. The standard signals are the zero-line cross (momentum changing sign), overbought/oversold extremes near `±25` for the default settings, and a signal-line cross — many traders overlay an EMA of TSI and trade the crossover. The double smoothing makes divergences unusually clean compared with raw momentum. ## Common pitfalls - **Reading it as a `[0, 100]` oscillator.** TSI is centred on zero and signed; `+25` is "strong up", not "mid-range". - **Under-budgeting warmup.** Warmup is `long + short` — for the default `(25, 13)` that is 38 bars. ## References William Blau, "True Strength Index", *Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities* (1991), and *Momentum, Direction, and Divergence* (1995). The double-EMA-of-momentum definition here follows Blau's original. ## See also - [Indicator-Mom.md](../momentum-oscillators/Indicator-Mom.md) — the raw momentum TSI smooths. - [Indicator-MacdIndicator.md](../trend-directional/Indicator-MacdIndicator.md) — another EMA-difference momentum oscillator with a signal line. - [Indicators-Overview.md](../../Indicators-Overview.md) — the full taxonomy.