How it works
A trading journal is a record of what you did, why you did it and what happened. Over time, it turns vague impressions ("I think my breakout trades work") into evidence.
For each trade you can log details such as the instrument, direction, entry, exit, stop-loss, size, result and notes. The journal then calculates summary statistics across all your trades.
Privacy and storage
Your journal is saved only in your browser using localStorage. Nothing is uploaded. That keeps your data private, but it also means you are responsible for backups: export to CSV regularly, and import the CSV to restore your trades or move them to another device.
Formulas
- Win rate = winning trades ÷ total trades × 100%
- Profit factor = gross profit ÷ gross loss (using the absolute value of losses)
- Max drawdown = the largest fall in cumulative profit from a previous peak to a later low
- R multiple for a trade = profit or loss ÷ initial risk
- Average R = sum of R multiples ÷ number of trades
Worked example
These ten trades are illustrative. Each trade risked $100, every loss hit its stop for −$100 and every win made $300.
| Trade | Result | R | Cumulative P/L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | −$100 | −1 | −$100 |
| 2 | −$100 | −1 | −$200 |
| 3 | +$300 | +3 | +$100 |
| 4 | −$100 | −1 | $0 |
| 5 | −$100 | −1 | −$100 |
| 6 | −$100 | −1 | −$200 |
| 7 | +$300 | +3 | +$100 |
| 8 | +$300 | +3 | +$400 |
| 9 | −$100 | −1 | +$300 |
| 10 | +$300 | +3 | +$600 |
- Win rate: 4 wins out of 10 = 40%
- Gross profit: 4 × $300 = $1,200; gross loss: 6 × $100 = $600
- Profit factor: 1,200 ÷ 600 = 2.0
- Average R: (4 × 3 − 6 × 1) ÷ 10 = 6 ÷ 10 = 0.6R
- Max drawdown: the curve peaks at +$100 after trade 3, then falls to −$200 after trade 6, a drop of $300. That is the largest peak-to-trough fall, so max drawdown = $300.
Notice that this sample loses more often than it wins, yet it is profitable because the average win is three times the average loss. A 40% win rate is above the 25% break-even rate for a 3R strategy (see the Risk/Reward Calculator).
Tips
- Log every trade, including the bad ones. Selective records produce flattering, misleading statistics.
- Write your reasoning before the result is known. It helps you judge decisions separately from outcomes. See Trading psychology.
- Record the initial stop. Without it, R multiples can't be calculated.
- Wait for a meaningful sample. Ten trades is far too few to draw firm conclusions; patterns become more reliable over many more.
- Watch drawdown as closely as profit. A strategy that is profitable overall can still have losing streaks that are hard to sit through.
- Export regularly so a cleared browser doesn't wipe your history.
Risk note
Journal statistics describe past results and do not guarantee future performance. A positive record over a small number of trades may be due to chance. Trading carries a substantial risk of loss. This tool is for personal record-keeping and education only.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my journal data stored?
Only in your browser's local storage on this device. It is not sent to our servers, so we cannot see it, back it up or restore it for you.
How do I back up or move my journal?
Use CSV export to save a copy of your trades. You can import that file later on the same or another browser. Clearing browser data or using private browsing can erase the stored journal.
What is profit factor?
Profit factor is gross profit divided by gross loss. A value above 1 means winning trades made more in total than losing trades lost.
What is average R?
R is a trade's result divided by the amount you initially risked. Average R tells you how much you made or lost per trade in units of risk, which makes trades of different sizes comparable.
Can I open the CSV in a spreadsheet?
Yes. The export is a standard CSV file that spreadsheet programs can open, which is useful for your own extra analysis.