Text

The Text annotation tool lets you place typewritten notes anywhere on a chart. Unlike anchored variants, the text box stays at a fixed screen position unless you explicitly move it — it does not follow price or time when you scroll or zoom. This makes it ideal for chart-wide labels and notes that should remain visible regardless of the visible data range. The screen-fixed behavior is the key distinction: the label occupies the same screen location at all times, like a piece of tape stuck to your monitor.

Use text labels for chart commentary, marking news events, labeling patterns, or documenting your trading journal entries inline. Each label supports full font customization including family, size, weight, color, background fill, border styling, and corner radius. Multi-line text is supported with automatic line wrapping based on the text box width, making it suitable for both short labels and detailed notes of several sentences.

Text annotations are screen-fixed by default, meaning they occupy a fixed position on your display rather than a position on the price/time axis. If you scroll the chart horizontally or vertically, the text box remains in the same screen location. This behavior is useful for general labels, legend items, and notes that apply to the chart as a whole rather than to a specific bar. For labels that must scroll with price, use the Anchored Text tool.

1. 1
   Select the Text tool

   Click the Text icon in the annotation toolbar or press the keyboard shortcut (T).
2. 2
   Click on the chart

   Place your cursor at the desired screen location and click. A text input box appears at that position.
3. 3
   Type your label

   Enter the annotation text. Press Shift+Enter for a new line; press Enter to finish and place the label.
4. 4
   Adjust appearance

   Use the settings panel to change font, color, size, and background styling. The changes apply immediately.
5. 5
   Reposition

   Drag the text box after placement to fine-tune its position. Hold Shift while dragging to snap to nearby price levels or time markers.

• Chart commentary — add daily notes about market conditions, news events, or analyst opinions that should remain visible regardless of scrolling. For example, "Resistance held — watch for breakdown."
• Pattern labeling — label chart patterns with descriptive text such as "Head and Shoulders Neckline" or "Bull Flag" directly on the chart for quick identification during live analysis.
• Trade journaling — document the rationale behind a trade, including entry triggers, risk management notes, and post-trade analysis. Place the note in a corner where it does not obscure data.
• Educational charts — add explanatory text to presentations, tutorials, and teaching materials. Use consistent labeling conventions across all slides for a professional appearance.
• Team collaboration — leave feedback or observations for team members on shared charts. Use consistent label styles and colors across the team for unified annotation standards.
• Indicator annotations — label custom indicator levels, overbought/oversold zones, or divergence points directly on the chart for reference during live trading.
• Chart legends — create custom legends explaining your annotation color scheme directly on the chart. For example, "Blue = Support, Red = Resistance, Green = Entry."
• Session notes — record pre-market observations or post-market summaries. For example, "Pre-market: Asian session showing weakness — expect gap down."

Text labels support automatic line wrapping based on the configured box width. If no explicit width is set, the text box expands to fit the content on a single line. For multi-line content, set a fixed width (200–350px is a good range) and the text wraps naturally within that constraint. Use Shift+Enter to force a line break at a specific point if the automatic wrapping does not produce the desired layout.

For labels with both a title and body, consider using separate text labels with different font sizes and weights. Place the title label above the body label and group them visually by keeping them close together. Alternatively, use the Note tool which has a built-in title bar for this exact purpose. When using multiple text labels, maintain consistent margins and alignment for a professional appearance across the chart.

Font choice significantly impacts chart readability. Sans-serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, system UI) are recommended for most chart labels because they remain legible at small sizes and on screens with varying resolutions. Monospace fonts are useful for price values because each character occupies the same width, making columnar price data easy to read and compare. Avoid decorative or script fonts entirely — they reduce readability and appear unprofessional on analysis charts.

Font size should be proportional to the timeframe. On daily charts, 12–14px is standard. On weekly charts, 14–16px works well. On intraday charts (5-minute, 15-minute), 10–11px prevents labels from overwhelming the chart. Bold weight should be reserved for headings and key levels; normal weight for body text and notes. Consistent font sizing across all labels on a chart creates a professional, cohesive appearance that is easier to read.

Two text annotation variants serve different positioning needs:

• 1.Text tool documentation — TradingView Help
• 2.Technical Analysis of Financial Markets — John J. Murphy
• 3.Charting and Technical Analysis — Fred McAllen
• 4.The Visual Investor — John J. Murphy
• 5.Typography for Data Visualization — Industry best practices