Concept
Tick data records every single price change in the market. It is more granular than candlesticks and is the smallest data unit.
Tick data includes:
Timestamp (millisecond precision)
Bid (buy price)
Ask (sell price)
Some platforms also provide Volume
Example:
2025.04.18 14:31:12.327 | Bid: 1924.56 | Ask: 1924.68
2025.04.18 14:31:12.446 | Bid: 1924.58 | Ask: 1924.70
How to View Tick History in MT5
Method 1: Built-in Data Center
Open MetaTrader 5
Menu → History Center (F2)
Select the symbol (e.g., XAUUSD)
Select data type: Ticks
Click “Download” or “Export”
⚠️ Some servers may not provide complete tick history. Please contact your platform support to confirm.
Method 2: View Short-Term Ticks on Chart
In Market Watch → right-click → “Chart Window”
Chart top “Chart Type” → choose “Ticks”
Observe real-time price ticks (not full history)
Main Uses of Tick Data
Slippage analysis: Compare execution price with tick movement
Accurate spread calculation: True Bid–Ask differences over time
Algorithmic backtests: More precise than candle-based tests
High-frequency strategies: Depend on micro-movements at tick level
Dispute/complaint checks: Retrieve ticks to verify quoted prices