Backtest — what it is and how to use it in trading
Definition
A backtest runs a trading strategy against an instrument's historical data to see how it would have performed in the past, before using it on a live or demo account.
How it works in the builder
In the Trading Way builder a backtest runs on a chosen instrument and period (1M/3M/6M/1Y), accounts for commission and slippage, and computes entry, exit and outcome for every trade by the strategy's own rules — with no manual intervention in how history unfolds.
Typical use
The first step before trusting any idea: looking not only at total return but also at drawdown, win rate, the Sharpe/Sortino ratio and the breakdown by OOS segment, session and MAE/MFE — a set of metrics, not a single number.
Common pitfalls
Backtest results are hypothetical: a backtest doesn't fully reproduce real-time slippage and liquidity, and a strong result on one stretch of history can be overfitting rather than a durable edge. Past results don't guarantee future returns.
This block is available in the strategy builder
137 no-code blocks — build an entry condition with this term and test it on history
Historical results do not guarantee future ones. The service is an informational and analytical tool, not an individual investment recommendation; trades are not executed.