OPEN-SOURCE SCRIPT
Absorption Detector Pro
Absorption Detector Pro
Absorption Detector Pro finds high-quality "absorption" bars — spots where aggressive volume hits the market but price fails to move proportionally, and instead reverses and closes strongly against the initial push. This is the classic effort-vs-result signature used in order-flow and volume-spread-analysis (VSA) trading: big effort (volume), little result (range), and a rejection close. The script layers PVSRA candle context, liquidity-sweep detection, trend filtering, a self-adjusting percentile ranking, and an optional intrabar buy/sell delta check on top of that core idea to cut down on noise and surface only the strongest candidates.
How it works
Absorption Score — for every bar, volume relative to its average (volume ratio) is divided by range relative to its average (range ratio). A high score means unusually large volume produced an unusually small candle — a sign of absorption.
Percentile Ranking — rather than using a single fixed cutoff, the score is ranked against the last N bars (percentile rank window, default 100) and only scores in the top X% (default 90th percentile) qualify. This lets the indicator self-adjust across symbols and timeframes instead of relying on one static threshold.
PVSRA Candle Context — each candle is classified as climax volume, above-average volume, or normal, based on volume and volume×range vs. their recent averages. Candles are optionally painted with these PVSRA colors for quick visual context, and climax volume can be required for a signal.
Liquidity Sweep — the script can require that the signal bar poked beyond the recent swing high/low before reversing (a stop-hunt/sweep pattern), which is a common precursor to genuine absorption.
Trend Filter — signals can be required to occur against the prevailing trend (price vs. a moving average), since absorption is most meaningful as a reversal/exhaustion signal rather than mid-trend noise.
Order Flow Delta (optional) — using request.security_lower_tf, the script can pull intrabar buy/sell volume from a lower timeframe (default 1-minute) and require that the net delta actually confirms the proposed direction (e.g., net selling on a bullish absorption bar that still closes strong).
Cooldown — a minimum bar count between signals prevents clustered, repetitive triggers during choppy conditions.
A bullish or bearish absorption signal only fires when all enabled gates pass together: elevated volume, a score above both the floor and the percentile threshold, correct close position in the bar's range, (optionally) climax volume, a liquidity sweep, trend alignment, and delta confirmation.
Reading the indicator
Triangle markers below/above bars mark bullish/bearish absorption signals.
Labels (optional) show the absorption score multiple and its percentile rank at the moment of signal.
Background highlight (optional) shades the signal bar.
Candle colors (optional, PVSRA) show climax volume, above-average volume, and normal volume at a glance, independent of signals.
Diagnostics table (top-right, optional) shows live volume ratio, range ratio, absorption score, percentile rank vs. the required threshold, climax status, sweep status, trend context, and bars since the last signal — useful for understanding why a bar did or didn't qualify.
Suggested use
This is a reversal/exhaustion tool, best used where volume and order flow context matter — e.g., around key support/resistance, session highs/lows, or after an extended directional move:
Use the diagnostics table while tuning inputs for a given symbol/timeframe, since default thresholds are a starting point, not a universal setting.
Start with default settings (climax volume + sweep required, trend filter on) for fewer, higher-conviction signals; relax individual gates (in the Signal Quality group) to see more candidates.
Combine with your own structure analysis (support/resistance, higher-timeframe trend) and risk management — this indicator identifies where volume and price disagree, not a complete trade plan.
The optional delta confirmation adds real intrabar buy/sell context but requests lower-timeframe data, so it will be slower to calculate and is best kept off unless you specifically want that extra filter.
Inputs
Core Absorption — averaging lookback, minimum volume ratio floor, minimum absorption score floor, close-in-range threshold
Signal Quality — percentile ranking window, minimum score percentile, require climax volume, require liquidity sweep (+ lookback), require trend context (+ MA length), cooldown bars between signals
PVSRA Candles — lookback, climax/above-average volume multipliers, candle coloring toggle and colors
Order Flow Confirmation (optional) — toggle and lower timeframe for intrabar delta
Visuals — labels, background highlight, diagnostics table, marker colors
Alerts
Two alert conditions are built in:
Bullish Absorption — swept lows, climax volume, compressed range, strong close
Bearish Absorption — swept highs, climax volume, compressed range, strong close
Absorption Detector Pro finds high-quality "absorption" bars — spots where aggressive volume hits the market but price fails to move proportionally, and instead reverses and closes strongly against the initial push. This is the classic effort-vs-result signature used in order-flow and volume-spread-analysis (VSA) trading: big effort (volume), little result (range), and a rejection close. The script layers PVSRA candle context, liquidity-sweep detection, trend filtering, a self-adjusting percentile ranking, and an optional intrabar buy/sell delta check on top of that core idea to cut down on noise and surface only the strongest candidates.
How it works
Absorption Score — for every bar, volume relative to its average (volume ratio) is divided by range relative to its average (range ratio). A high score means unusually large volume produced an unusually small candle — a sign of absorption.
Percentile Ranking — rather than using a single fixed cutoff, the score is ranked against the last N bars (percentile rank window, default 100) and only scores in the top X% (default 90th percentile) qualify. This lets the indicator self-adjust across symbols and timeframes instead of relying on one static threshold.
PVSRA Candle Context — each candle is classified as climax volume, above-average volume, or normal, based on volume and volume×range vs. their recent averages. Candles are optionally painted with these PVSRA colors for quick visual context, and climax volume can be required for a signal.
Liquidity Sweep — the script can require that the signal bar poked beyond the recent swing high/low before reversing (a stop-hunt/sweep pattern), which is a common precursor to genuine absorption.
Trend Filter — signals can be required to occur against the prevailing trend (price vs. a moving average), since absorption is most meaningful as a reversal/exhaustion signal rather than mid-trend noise.
Order Flow Delta (optional) — using request.security_lower_tf, the script can pull intrabar buy/sell volume from a lower timeframe (default 1-minute) and require that the net delta actually confirms the proposed direction (e.g., net selling on a bullish absorption bar that still closes strong).
Cooldown — a minimum bar count between signals prevents clustered, repetitive triggers during choppy conditions.
A bullish or bearish absorption signal only fires when all enabled gates pass together: elevated volume, a score above both the floor and the percentile threshold, correct close position in the bar's range, (optionally) climax volume, a liquidity sweep, trend alignment, and delta confirmation.
Reading the indicator
Triangle markers below/above bars mark bullish/bearish absorption signals.
Labels (optional) show the absorption score multiple and its percentile rank at the moment of signal.
Background highlight (optional) shades the signal bar.
Candle colors (optional, PVSRA) show climax volume, above-average volume, and normal volume at a glance, independent of signals.
Diagnostics table (top-right, optional) shows live volume ratio, range ratio, absorption score, percentile rank vs. the required threshold, climax status, sweep status, trend context, and bars since the last signal — useful for understanding why a bar did or didn't qualify.
Suggested use
This is a reversal/exhaustion tool, best used where volume and order flow context matter — e.g., around key support/resistance, session highs/lows, or after an extended directional move:
Use the diagnostics table while tuning inputs for a given symbol/timeframe, since default thresholds are a starting point, not a universal setting.
Start with default settings (climax volume + sweep required, trend filter on) for fewer, higher-conviction signals; relax individual gates (in the Signal Quality group) to see more candidates.
Combine with your own structure analysis (support/resistance, higher-timeframe trend) and risk management — this indicator identifies where volume and price disagree, not a complete trade plan.
The optional delta confirmation adds real intrabar buy/sell context but requests lower-timeframe data, so it will be slower to calculate and is best kept off unless you specifically want that extra filter.
Inputs
Core Absorption — averaging lookback, minimum volume ratio floor, minimum absorption score floor, close-in-range threshold
Signal Quality — percentile ranking window, minimum score percentile, require climax volume, require liquidity sweep (+ lookback), require trend context (+ MA length), cooldown bars between signals
PVSRA Candles — lookback, climax/above-average volume multipliers, candle coloring toggle and colors
Order Flow Confirmation (optional) — toggle and lower timeframe for intrabar delta
Visuals — labels, background highlight, diagnostics table, marker colors
Alerts
Two alert conditions are built in:
Bullish Absorption — swept lows, climax volume, compressed range, strong close
Bearish Absorption — swept highs, climax volume, compressed range, strong close
Open-source script
In true PulseWire spirit, the creator of this script has made it open-source, so that traders can review and verify its functionality. Kudos to the author! While you can use it for free, remember that republishing the code is subject to our House Rules.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by PulseWire. Read more in the Terms of Use.
Open-source script
In true PulseWire spirit, the creator of this script has made it open-source, so that traders can review and verify its functionality. Kudos to the author! While you can use it for free, remember that republishing the code is subject to our House Rules.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by PulseWire. Read more in the Terms of Use.