Forex Volume Data: Ticks, Trades and Profiles

Tick activity is a different measurement

A tick-volume measure counts price or quote activity according to the provider’s definition. Reported trade volume counts executed transactions or their size within the source’s coverage. These are different observations and should not be presented as interchangeable.

TradingView’s indicator documentation distinguishes trade volume, tick volume and base or quote volume for different instrument types. The definition is specific to the instrument and feed; a familiar chart label does not remove the need to check it.

Ask four questions about a feed

• What is counted: updates, trades, contracts or another unit?
• Which provider or venue contributes the observations?
• How are the session boundary and timezone defined?
• How are missing data and price aggregation handled?

A venue-specific record does not, by itself, establish the complete activity of every participant in a wider market. Record coverage alongside the result rather than treating it as a footnote.

Profiles and footprints inherit the data definition

A volume profile groups its activity measure across price rows in a selected range. A footprint chart breaks down observations within bars. If the source measures tick activity, neither chart converts that activity into a complete record of executed market volume.

Classifying trade delta also requires a defined method. A ratio or imbalance should be described in terms of that method and sample, not as direct evidence of every participant’s intention.

Keep the interpretation reproducible

Save the instrument identifier, provider, volume type, date range, session and chart settings in the journal. Compare the same measurement across examples. If the source changes, label the change before merging samples.

Source: TradingView documentation: volume profile indicators and data types. This guide explains measurement choices; it does not endorse a data vendor or prescribe a trade.

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