API (Application Programming Interface)

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a contract, or set of rules, that lets two software systems talk to each other. Programmers use APIs to build custom trading systems, such as algorithmic trading systems or systems made for a specific client’s needs.

See the full list of supported brokers.

Demo video

AutoTrader Web APIs

Our APIs are designed to work the same way no matter which broker you use.

• Broker independent (multi-broker)
  • The same code works across many different stock brokers.
  • Your system stays compatible with many brokers at once.
• Multi-account
  • Trade across multiple accounts easily. Every API function accepts an account number as a parameter.
  • One API authentication covers all of your trading accounts.
• Broker independent symbols
  • We provide standard symbols that work across all brokers.
  • You do not need to handle broker-specific symbols in your code.
• Low latency
  • On average 100 to 200 milliseconds.
• Industry leading documentation

How to measure your order speed

Order placement takes 100 to 200 milliseconds on average. About 20 milliseconds of that is our system; the rest is your broker.

You can check these numbers on your own account. The API response does not carry timing, but you do not need to add any timing code, because every order is already recorded in your activity log with a timestamp accurate to the millisecond.

1. Place the order as usual. The response contains a commandId.
2. Open Tools -> Activity in AutoTrader Web and paste that command id into the filter box.
3. You will see two entries for that order. Placing order: Order [...] is the moment we received it, and SUCCESS - [...]. Result: ... is the moment your broker replied with the order id.
4. Subtract the first time from the second.

For example, 10:15:32.118 and 10:15:32.267 means the order took 149 milliseconds.

That gap covers our system plus your broker, and it leaves out your own internet connection. So if you also measure the full round trip in your own code, the difference between the two numbers is your network and your code. That is the cleanest way to find out where your time is actually going.

Take an average over at least 100 orders before drawing a conclusion. A single order can be slow for reasons that have nothing to do with speed, such as the first order of the day.

See Activity screen and slow performance for more.

API Libraries

Pick the library that matches your programming environment.

• HTTP REST API (works from any programming language)
• Java API library
• AmiBroker API library
• MetaTrader API library
• Ms-Excel API library
• C# .NET API library
• Python API library

API Functions

Click any function below to read its documentation.

Place orders

• Place Regular Order
• Place Cover Order — your broker’s own cover order
• Place Bracket Order — your broker’s own bracket order
• Place AutoTrader Bracket Order — ours, works on every broker
• Place AutoTrader Cover Order — ours, works on every broker
• Place Advanced Order

Cancel orders

• Cancel Order
• Cancel Child Orders
• Cancel All Orders

Modify orders

• Modify Order
• Modify Order Price
• Modify Order Quantity

Square-off

• Square-off Position
• Square-off Portfolio

Read data

• Read Orders
• Read Positions
• Read Margins
• Read Portfolio Summary

Trading accounts

• Fetch All Trading Accounts
• Create or Update Trading Account
• Validate Trading Account Credentials

Reference

• API Parameters
• API Rate Limits
• Email Limits
• Postman