What it shows
A step line holds each period's value as a horizontal segment and then jumps vertically to the next value, producing a staircase instead of diagonal slopes. It shows that price was at a discrete level for the whole period rather than smoothly interpolating between closes. Vertical jumps make period-to-period changes explicit.
How it's built
For each fixed time interval the chosen price (usually close) is drawn as a horizontal step across the interval, connected to the next step by a vertical riser. The chart stays uniformly time-based.
Switch to it
Open the chart-type menu in the header (next to the interval buttons) and pick Step line — or pin it as a favourite for one-click switching.
When to use it
- Series that genuinely change in discrete steps, such as rates, settlement prices or indicator states
- Making small period-over-period changes and flat stretches easy to see
- Support and resistance reading based on how long price held a level
Settings reference
Open Chart Settings (gear, or double-click the chart background) with this type active. Every setting, its possible values and what it changes:
| Setting | Control | Possible values | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color type | select + two-colors | Solid, Gradient; any color (gradient start / end) | Gradient; start #D500F9, end #00BCE5 | Solid strokes the stepped line in the single Line color; Gradient strokes it with a vertical gradient blending the two chosen colors. |
| Line color | color | any color | #2962FF | The stepped line's stroke color when Color type is Solid. Ignored while Gradient mode is active. |
| Line width | slider | 1 to 4 | 2 | Thickness of the stepped line in pixels. |
| Line style | select | Solid, Dashed, Dotted | Solid | Dash pattern of the stepped line: continuous, dashed segments, or dots. |
| Source | select | Close, Open, High, Low, HL2, HLC3, OHLC4 | Close | Which price of each bar the steps plot; the line holds each value flat until the next bar, then steps vertically. |
| Show price line | checkbox | on/off | on | Shows a horizontal line across the pane at the latest plotted value. Unchecked removes it. |
| Precision | select | Default, 0 (1), 1 (1.1), 2 (1.01), 3 (1.001), 4 (1.0001), 5 (1.00001), 6 (1.000001), 7 (1.0000001), 8 (1.00000001) | Default | Number of decimal places shown on the price scale and price readouts. Default derives the precision from the symbol's own price scale. |
Watch out for
- The staircase can exaggerate the feeling of gaps; the vertical risers are visual connectors, not traded prices