---
url: /indicators/chaikin-osc.md
description: >-
  Created by Marc Chaikin, the Chaikin Oscillator is the difference between fast
  and slow Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) of an Accumulation / Distribution
  Line (ADL).
package: FacioQuo.Stock.Indicators
docs_version: v3
canonical: https://dotnet.stockindicators.dev/indicators/chaikin-osc
generated: 2026-10-15T06:15:05.027Z
commit: 4044e66ee11c1611f024b18d0096806706a00c9d
---

# Chaikin Oscillator

Created by Marc Chaikin, the [Chaikin Oscillator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaikin_Analytics#Chaikin_Oscillator) is the difference between fast and slow Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) of the [Accumulation/Distribution Line](/indicators/adl.md) (ADL).
[\[Discuss\] 💬](https://github.com/facioquo/stock-indicators-dotnet/discussions/264 "Community discussion about this indicator")

```csharp
// C# usage syntax
IReadOnlyList<ChaikinOscResult> results =
  bars.ToChaikinOsc(fastPeriods, slowPeriods);
```

## Parameters

| param | description |
| ----- | ----------- |
| `fastPeriods`*`int`* | Number of periods (`F`) in the ADL fast EMA.  Must be greater than 0 and smaller than `S`.  Default is 3. |
| `slowPeriods`*`int`* | Number of periods (`S`) in the ADL slow EMA.  Must be greater than `F`.  Default is 10. |

### Historical price bars requirements

You must have at least `2×S` or `S+100` periods of `bars`, whichever is more,  to cover the [warmup and convergence](https://github.com/facioquo/stock-indicators-dotnet/discussions/688) periods.  Since this uses a smoothing technique, we recommend you use at least `S+250` data points prior to the intended usage date for better precision.

`bars` is a collection of generic `TBar` historical price bars.  It should have a consistent frequency (day, hour, minute, etc).  See [the Guide](/guide/getting-started.md#historical-bars) for more information.

## Response

```csharp
IReadOnlyList<ChaikinOscResult>
```

* This method returns a time series of all available indicator values for the `bars` provided.
* It always returns the same number of elements as there are in the historical price bars.
* It does not return a single incremental indicator value.
* The first `S-1` periods will have `null` values for `Oscillator` since there's not enough data to calculate.

> [!WARNING]
> **🚩 ⚞ Convergence warning**
>
> The first `S+100` periods will have decreasing magnitude, convergence-related precision errors that can be as high as ~5% deviation in indicator values for earlier periods.

### `ChaikinOscResult`

| property | description |
| ----- | ----------- |
| `Timestamp`*`DateTime`* | Date from evaluated `TBar` |
| `MoneyFlowMultiplier`*`double?`* | Money Flow Multiplier |
| `MoneyFlowVolume`*`double?`* | Money Flow Volume |
| `Adl`*`double?`* | Accumulation Distribution Line (ADL) |
| `Oscillator`*`double?`* | Chaikin Oscillator |
| `FastEma`*`double?`* | Fast EMA of the ADL |
| `SlowEma`*`double?`* | Slow EMA of the ADL |

> [!WARNING]
> **🚩 Relative values only**
>
> Absolute values in MFV, ADL, FastEma, SlowEma, and Oscillator are somewhat meaningless.  Use with caution.

### Utilities

* [.Condense()](/utilities/results.md#condense)
* [.Find(lookupDate)](/utilities/results.md#find-by-date)
* [.RemoveWarmupPeriods()](/utilities/results.md#remove-warmup-periods)
* [.RemoveWarmupPeriods(removePeriods)](/utilities/results.md#remove-warmup-periods)

See [Utilities and helpers](/utilities.md) for more information.

## Chaining

Results can be further processed on `Oscillator` with additional chain-enabled indicators.

```csharp
// example
var results = bars
    .ToChaikinOsc(..)
    .ToSlope(..);
```

This indicator must be generated from `bars` and **cannot** be generated from results of another chain-enabled indicator or method.

See [Chaining indicators](/guide/chaining.md) for more.

## Streaming

Use the buffer-style `List<T>` when you need incremental calculations without a hub:

```csharp
ChaikinOscList chaikinOscList = new(fastPeriods, slowPeriods);

// call from your WebSocket or SSE message handler
void OnBarReceived(IBar bar) => chaikinOscList.Add(bar);

// based on `ICollection<ChaikinOscResult>`; fills as the handler runs
IReadOnlyList<ChaikinOscResult> results = chaikinOscList;
```

Subscribe to a `BarHub` for advanced streaming scenarios:

```csharp
BarHub barHub = new();
ChaikinOscHub observer = barHub.ToChaikinOscHub(fastPeriods, slowPeriods);

// call from your WebSocket or SSE message handler
void OnBarReceived(IBar bar) => barHub.Add(bar);

// results fill as the handler runs
IReadOnlyList<ChaikinOscResult> results = observer.Results;
```

See [Buffer lists](/guide/styles/buffer.md) and [Stream hubs](/guide/styles/stream.md) for full usage guides.