# Arnaud Legoux Moving Average (`ta.alma`)



<a id="ta-alma"></a>

Smooth price with an offsettable Gaussian weight distribution to control smoothing and response. floor=True rounds the weight center down and normalizes stably; the fixed backend weight direction is retained, without promising numerical parity with Pine.

[Indicator catalog](https://docs.openbacktesting.com/reference/indicators/index.md) · [How to use indicators](https://docs.openbacktesting.com/reference/indicator-api/index.md)

## Run this example

This complete script uses bundled data. It observes the selected output without placing trades.

```python
import numpy as np
from openbacktesting import Backtest, Strategy
from openbacktesting.test import GOOG

data = GOOG.copy()

class Example(Strategy):
    def init(self):
        self.value = self.ta.alma(self.close)
        self.latest_value = None

    def next(self):
        channel = self.value
        if channel.valid[-1]:
            self.latest_value = float(channel[-1])

result = Backtest(data, Example).run()
print(result["_strategy"].latest_value)
```

## Call and parameters

```python
self.ta.alma(
    source=None,
    *,
    length=10,
    sigma=6.0,
    distribution_offset=0.85,
    floor=False,
    inputs=None,
    backend=None,
    required_outputs=None,
)
```

Register in `init()`. Read the returned channel in `next()` after checking `valid[-1]`.

| Parameter | Meaning | Type | Default | Allowed values |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `length` | Calculation window in observations. | `int` | `10` | Minimum: `1` |
| `sigma` | Controls the ALMA Gaussian weight width. | `float` | `6.0` | Minimum: `1e-08` |
| `distribution_offset` | Relative location of the ALMA weight center. | `float` | `0.85` | Minimum: `1e-08`; Maximum: `1.0` |
| `floor` | Round the ALMA weight center down when True. | `bool` | `False` | No additional constraints |

`source`/named source arguments accept a column name or same-run single-channel handle. Alternatively, `inputs` maps each input below to a column or handle. `backend` selects a supported implementation; `required_outputs` selects channels for readiness diagnostics. See [shared arguments and handles](https://docs.openbacktesting.com/reference/indicator-api/index.md#bind-inputs-and-read-outputs).

## Inputs and outputs

Required inputs: `close`.

| Channel | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `alma` | Arnaud Legoux Moving Average value |

## Reading values safely

Insufficient history or missing inputs can make a channel invalid. Check that channel's `valid` mask; `ready` is diagnostic and never suppresses `next()`. Multi-output results may have different valid channels on the same bar.

[Indicator catalog](https://docs.openbacktesting.com/reference/indicators/index.md) · [Custom calculations](https://docs.openbacktesting.com/reference/strategy/index.md#register-custom-calculations)