Backtrader API Reference

This section contains complete API documentation for the Backtrader framework, automatically generated from source code docstrings.

Core Package

Quick Reference

Core Classes

The main classes you'll work with in Backtrader:

  • backtrader.Cerebro - The main engine that orchestrates everything

  • backtrader.Strategy - Base class for trading strategies

  • backtrader.Indicator - Base class for technical indicators

  • backtrader.Analyzer - Base class for performance analyzers

  • backtrader.Observer - Base class for observers

  • backtrader.Sizer - Base class for position sizers

  • backtrader.Order - Order representation

  • backtrader.Trade - Trade representation

  • backtrader.Position - Position tracking

Data Feeds

Available data feed classes for loading market data:

  • backtrader.feeds.GenericCSVData - Flexible CSV data loader

  • backtrader.feeds.PandasData - Load from pandas DataFrame

  • backtrader.feeds.YahooFinanceCSVData - Yahoo Finance format

  • backtrader.feeds.BacktraderCSVData - Native Backtrader format

Technical Indicators

Backtrader includes 50+ built-in indicators:

Moving Averages: SMA, EMA, WMA, SMMA, DEMA, KAMA, HMA, ZLEMA

Oscillators: RSI, Stochastic, MACD, CCI, Williams %R, Ultimate Oscillator

Volatility: ATR, Bollinger Bands, Standard Deviation

Trend: ADX, Aroon, Parabolic SAR, Ichimoku, DPO

Momentum: ROC, Momentum, KST, TSI, TRIX

See backtrader.indicators package for complete list.

Performance Analyzers

Built-in analyzers for strategy evaluation:

  • backtrader.analyzers.SharpeRatio - Sharpe ratio calculation

  • backtrader.analyzers.DrawDown - Drawdown analysis

  • backtrader.analyzers.TradeAnalyzer - Trade statistics

  • backtrader.analyzers.Returns - Return metrics

  • backtrader.analyzers.SQN - System Quality Number

  • backtrader.analyzers.VWR - Variability-Weighted Return

See backtrader.analyzers package for complete list.

Position Sizers

Built-in sizers for position sizing:

  • backtrader.sizers.FixedSize - Fixed number of units

  • backtrader.sizers.PercentSizer - Percentage of portfolio

  • backtrader.sizers.AllInSizer - Use all available cash

See backtrader.sizers package for complete list