Average Directional Index (ADX)

Category: Momentum · Updated November 2026

The TAAPI.IO ADX API returns real-time and historical values for the Average Directional Index indicator as JSON, for crypto pairs and US stocks. Send an exchange, symbol and timeframe to get real-time or historical data, with no candles to download and no calculations to maintain.

Get ADX with one API call

This request returns ADX for BTCUSDT on 1-hour Binance candles. Add your API key to run it here.

curl -G https://v2.taapi.io/indicator/adx \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  --data-urlencode "exchange=binance" \
  --data-urlencode "symbol=BTCUSDT" \
  --data-urlencode "timeframe=1h"

import requests

resp = requests.get(
    'https://v2.taapi.io/indicator/adx',
    headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'},
    params={'exchange': 'binance', 'symbol': 'BTCUSDT', 'timeframe': '1h'},
)
print(resp.json())

const params = new URLSearchParams({"exchange": "binance", "symbol": "BTCUSDT", "timeframe": "1h"});
const res = await fetch(`https://v2.taapi.io/indicator/adx?${params}`, {
  headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' },
});
console.log(await res.json());

ADX API response

This response came from the live API on 9 November 2026. Long lists are shortened here.

{
  "value": [26.43205462753991],
  "timestamp": [1794218400]
}

ADX API parameters

What is ADX?

The Average Directional Index, developed by J. Welles Wilder, measures how strong a trend is, whichever direction it points. It is a smoothed average of the DX line, which compares upward and downward directional movement.

ADX formula

How to read ADX in your code

Limitations: ADX says nothing about direction, so pair it with +DI and −DI. Because it is double smoothed, it confirms trends late. Nothing on this page is financial advice.

What ADX levels mean

ADX runs from 0 to 100, though readings above 60 are uncommon. Below 20 usually means no meaningful trend. Above 25 is the usual sign that one exists. These levels are conventions from Wilder's work and vary by market, so check them on your own symbols.

A falling ADX does not mean price is falling. It means the trend, in either direction, is losing strength. Similarly, ADX can rise during a sharp decline.

ADX as a strategy filter

ADX is most often used to decide which rules to apply. When it's high, trend tools such as moving-average crossovers and SuperTrend tend to behave better. When it's low, range tools such as RSI or Bollinger Bands are usually more suitable.

Because of its double smoothing, ADX often rises only after a move is under way. That makes it better as a filter than as an entry signal.

Build an ADX trend filter with Python

ADX alone has no direction, so this uses the dmi endpoint, which returns ADX with +DI and −DI in a single response.

curl -G https://v2.taapi.io/indicator/dmi \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  --data-urlencode "exchange=binance" \
  --data-urlencode "symbol=BTCUSDT" \
  --data-urlencode "timeframe=1h" \
  --data-urlencode "backtrack=1"

import requests

resp = requests.get(
    'https://v2.taapi.io/indicator/dmi',
    headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'},
    params={'exchange': 'binance', 'symbol': 'BTCUSDT', 'timeframe': '1h', 'backtrack': 1},
)
data = resp.json()

adx = data['adx'][-1]
plus_di = data['plusdi'][-1]
minus_di = data['minusdi'][-1]

if adx < 20:
    print(f'No clear trend, ADX {adx:.1f}')
elif plus_di > minus_di:
    print(f'Uptrend, ADX {adx:.1f}')
else:
    print(f'Downtrend, ADX {adx:.1f}')

Get historical ADX values

Add results to return a series for backtesting or charting. The last element is the most recent candle.

curl -G https://v2.taapi.io/indicator/adx \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  --data-urlencode "exchange=binance" \
  --data-urlencode "symbol=BTCUSDT" \
  --data-urlencode "timeframe=1h" \
  --data-urlencode "results=100"

Get ADX for multiple symbols

Combine ADX with other indicators in one request. Each exchange, symbol and timeframe combination is one construct: Basic allows 1 per request, Pro 3 and Expert 10.

curl -X POST https://v2.taapi.io/bulk \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "constructs": [
    {
      "id": "btc_1h",
      "exchange": "binance",
      "symbol": "BTCUSDT",
      "timeframe": "1h",
      "indicators": [
        {
          "id": "adx",
          "indicator": "adx"
        },
        {
          "id": "rsi",
          "indicator": "rsi"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}'

Stream ADX in real time

Subscribe over WebSocket to receive new values every 5 seconds while the candle is forming. Streaming supports 1m, 5m, 15m and 1h, and uses interval where REST uses timeframe.

{
  "type": "subscribe",
  "id": "adx",
  "exchange": "binance",
  "symbol": "BTCUSDT",
  "interval": "1m",
  "indicator": "adx"
}

Why ADX values can differ between platforms

• Smoothing: adx uses TA-Lib's implementation of Wilder's method. Tools may seed the first values differently, and the effect fades with more history.
• Settings: Some charts use separate lengths for DI and ADX smoothing.
• Exchange data: ADX is built from highs and lows, which differ between venues.

ADX API FAQ

Related indicators

• Directional Movement Index
• ADX Rating
• Plus Directional Indicator
• Minus Directional Indicator
• Average True Range

See the full list of indicators, or start for free.