<p><strong>Mt Gox JSON Depth Data</strong></p>

<p>Market depth is a snapshot of the currently open bid(buy offers) and ask(sell offers).
A definition from Investopedia: <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/depth-of-market.asp" rel="nofollow">Depth of Market</a></p>

<p>Each time a new order enters Mt Gox's order book the real-time depth API broadcasts this to the end user. If you listen long enough to the Mt Gox's depth API you would be able to gain an almost accurate copy of Mt Gox's order book.</p>

<p><strong>Interpreting the Data</strong></p>

<p><code>volume</code>: this is the amount of <code>item</code> (BTC) that the depth at that <code>price</code> in <code>currency</code> (USD) has <strong>changed</strong> by. This has been deprecated in favour of <code>volume_int</code>. Basically it is the same thing except the <code>volume_int</code> must be divided by 1E8.</p>

<p><code>price</code>: the price point in <code>currency</code> to which this depth record relates.</p>

<p><code>total_volume_int</code>: since <code>volume</code> / <code>volume_int</code> are <strong>change</strong> records <code>total_volume</code> records how much is available at that price point. A zero value means that no more orders are at this price point. For most purposes <code>total_volume_int</code> is the number you want to use.</p>

<p><strong>How depth data relates to the charts</strong></p>

<p>I'm assuming that the question refers to the <a href="http://www.mtgoxlive.com/" rel="nofollow">live charts</a>. That chart is built by forming points between price and the <strong>accumulated</strong> depth working outwards from the market price. Then those points get connected. For example:</p>

<p>For bid orders of 10 @ $90, 10 @ $80 and 10 @ $70 the graph would show depth accumulation of: 30 @ $70, 20 @ $80 and 10 @ $90.</p>

<p><strong>Using the data</strong></p>

<p>Depth information is useful to determine just how much "liquidity" there is in the market. This indicates how much a "large" transaction will move the market price. </p>

<p>A steep accumulated depth line indicates potential "support" on the bid side and "resistance" on the ask side. A steep chasm formed by both sides of the accumulated bid/ask depth indicates price stability while a spread out flat bowl indicates price sensitivity.</p>

<p>(bid, ask, liquidity, support, resistance are stock trading terms -> look them up on investopedia, it's a good resource)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T11:26:11.657Z
Thanks for the information. I added an extra section with what I wanted to know. Please edit it as you wish. I'll mark the question as answered shortly.
Dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T17:02:08.533Z
I moved your section to the top and tried to improve readability throughout.
stormrose
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-24T09:33:30.743Z
2013-12-28T17:00:59.590Z
2013-12-28T17:00:59.590Z
stormrose
<p>You can get streaming market depth data form Mt Gox as described here: <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/MtGox/API/Streaming#Depth" rel="nofollow">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/MtGox/API/Streaming#Depth</a>.</p>

<p>I understand what market depth is but how do I interpret this data?</p>

<p>An edited example of a JSON market depth response at the above link is:</p>

<pre><code>{
    "currency":"USD",
    "item":"BTC",
    "now":"1323644358437819",
    "price":"14.43",
    "total_volume_int":"849766000",
    "type_str":"ask",
    "volume":"-2.71",
}
</code></pre>

<p>What does <code>volume</code>, <code>total_volume_int</code> and <code>price</code> relate to? What insight do I get from this?</p>

<p>I understand the market depth charts at <a href="http://bitcoincharts.com/markets/mtgoxUSD.html" rel="nofollow">http://bitcoincharts.com/markets/mtgoxUSD.html</a> but how does the above JSON data relate to them?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-20T00:17:02.593Z
I understand now that each piece of JSON depth data is actually an order entering the order book. Therefore in the example someone wants to sell 2.71 bitcoints for 14.43. However can someone tell me what `total_volume_int` means?
Dan
<exchanges><mtgox><trading>
How do I interpret Mt Gox market depth streaming data?
Dan
# How do I interpret Mt Gox market depth streaming data?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-19)

You can get streaming market depth data form Mt Gox as described here: <https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/MtGox/API/Streaming#Depth>.

I understand what market depth is but how do I interpret this data?

An edited example of a JSON market depth response at the above link is:

```
{
    "currency":"USD",
    "item":"BTC",
    "now":"1323644358437819",
    "price":"14.43",
    "total_volume_int":"849766000",
    "type_str":"ask",
    "volume":"-2.71",
}

```

What does `volume`, `total_volume_int` and `price` relate to? What insight do I get from this?

I understand the market depth charts at <http://bitcoincharts.com/markets/mtgoxUSD.html> but how does the above JSON data relate to them?

**Tags:** exchanges, mtgox, trading

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I understand now that each piece of JSON depth data is actually an order entering the order book. Therefore in the example someone wants to sell 2.71 bitcoints for 14.43. However can someone tell me what `total_volume_int` means?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-24. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

**Mt Gox JSON Depth Data**

Market depth is a snapshot of the currently open bid(buy offers) and ask(sell offers).
A definition from Investopedia: [Depth of Market](http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/depth-of-market.asp)

Each time a new order enters Mt Gox's order book the real-time depth API broadcasts this to the end user. If you listen long enough to the Mt Gox's depth API you would be able to gain an almost accurate copy of Mt Gox's order book.

**Interpreting the Data**

`volume`: this is the amount of `item` (BTC) that the depth at that `price` in `currency` (USD) has **changed** by. This has been deprecated in favour of `volume_int`. Basically it is the same thing except the `volume_int` must be divided by 1E8.

`price`: the price point in `currency` to which this depth record relates.

`total_volume_int`: since `volume` / `volume_int` are **change** records `total_volume` records how much is available at that price point. A zero value means that no more orders are at this price point. For most purposes `total_volume_int` is the number you want to use.

**How depth data relates to the charts**

I'm assuming that the question refers to the [live charts](http://www.mtgoxlive.com/). That chart is built by forming points between price and the **accumulated** depth working outwards from the market price. Then those points get connected. For example:

For bid orders of 10 @ $90, 10 @ $80 and 10 @ $70 the graph would show depth accumulation of: 30 @ $70, 20 @ $80 and 10 @ $90.

**Using the data**

Depth information is useful to determine just how much "liquidity" there is in the market. This indicates how much a "large" transaction will move the market price.

A steep accumulated depth line indicates potential "support" on the bid side and "resistance" on the ask side. A steep chasm formed by both sides of the accumulated bid/ask depth indicates price stability while a spread out flat bowl indicates price sensitivity.

(bid, ask, liquidity, support, resistance are stock trading terms -> look them up on investopedia, it's a good resource)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the information. I added an extra section with what I wanted to know. Please edit it as you wish. I'll mark the question as answered shortly.  
> **username_1**: I moved your section to the top and tried to improve readability throughout.  

---

