---
url: /indicators/obv.md
description: >-
  Popularized by Joseph Granville, On-balance Volume is a rolling accumulation
  of volume based on Close price direction.
package: FacioQuo.Stock.Indicators
docs_version: v3
canonical: https://dotnet.stockindicators.dev/indicators/obv
generated: 2026-09-30T04:41:06.055Z
commit: ae1f432eaa0b03ae9f39e032c69434b557efa4a2
---

# On-Balance Volume (OBV)

Popularized by Joseph Granville, [On-balance Volume](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-balance_volume) is a rolling accumulation of volume based on Close price direction.
[\[Discuss\] 💬](https://github.com/facioquo/stock-indicators-dotnet/discussions/246 "Community discussion about this indicator")

```csharp
// C# usage syntax
IReadOnlyList<ObvResult> results =
  bars.ToObv();
```

## Historical price bars requirements

You must have at least two historical price bars to cover the warmup periods; however, since this is a trendline, more is recommended.

`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<ObvResult>
```

* 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 period OBV will have a `0` value since there's not enough data to calculate.

### `ObvResult`

| property | type | description |
| -------- | ---- | ----------- |
| `Timestamp` | *`DateTime`* | Date from evaluated `TBar` |
| `Obv` | *`double`* | On-balance Volume |

> [!WARNING]
> **🚩**
>
> absolute values in OBV are somewhat meaningless. Use with caution.

### Utilities

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

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

## Chaining

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

```csharp
// example
var results = bars
    .ToObv(..)
    .ToRsi(..);
```

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
ObvList obvList = new();

foreach (IBar bar in bars)  // simulating stream
{
  obvList.Add(bar);
}

// based on `ICollection<ObvResult>`
IReadOnlyList<ObvResult> results = obvList;
```

Subscribe to a `BarHub` for advanced streaming scenarios:

```csharp
BarHub barHub = new();
ObvHub observer = barHub.ToObvHub();

foreach (IBar bar in bars)  // simulating stream
{
  barHub.Add(bar);
}

IReadOnlyList<ObvResult> results = observer.Results;
```

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