# Snapshot Quick Start

> Snapshot shows real-time sentiment via options flow. Bullish flow (green) = call buying. Bearish flow (red) = put buying. Use flow strength (3x+ = strong, 5x+…

Source: https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/snapshot/quick-start (updated 2026-03-15)

Snapshot shows real-time sentiment via options flow. Bullish flow (green) = call buying. Bearish flow (red) = put buying. Use flow strength (3x+ = strong, 5x+ = extreme) and time filters to find conviction before it shows on the chart.

![Snapshot showing bullish and bearish flow with premium totals](https://tradeecho.com/docs/img/app/snapshot.png)

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## What is Snapshot?

### What You Get

- **Real-Time Sentiment**: Bullish vs bearish options flow at a glance
- **Flow Strength**: Ratio of call premium to put premium (or vice versa)
- **Time Filters**: Today, Yesterday, This Week, Last Week, Custom
- **Ticker Search**: Sentiment for specific stocks

### Why Snapshot Matters

Options flow leads price. When institutions buy calls, they expect upside. When they buy puts, they expect downside. Snapshot aggregates that flow into a simple bullish/bearish ratio so you see conviction before the move.

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## Understanding Flow

### Bullish (Green)

- **Call buying** dominates
- Institutions are betting on upside
- Higher ratio = stronger conviction

### Bearish (Red)

- **Put buying** dominates
- Institutions are betting on downside
- Higher ratio = stronger conviction

### Flow Strength Interpretation

| Ratio | Strength | Implication |
|-------|----------|-------------|
| 1x-2x | Weak | Mixed flow, low conviction |
| 3x+ | Strong | Clear directional bias |
| 5x+ | Extreme | Possible contrarian fade |

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## Time Filters

| Filter | Use Case |
|--------|----------|
| **Today** | Intraday sentiment, day trading |
| **Yesterday** | Overnight context, gap setup prep |
| **This Week** | Swing trade bias |
| **Last Week** | Weekly trend, sector rotation |
| **Custom** | Specific date range for research |

### Which Filter for Which Style

| Trading Style | Primary Filter | Secondary |
|---------------|----------------|-----------|
| Day trading | Today | Yesterday |
| Swing trading | This Week | Today |
| Position trading | Last Week | This Week |

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## Quick Reference

### Daily Workflow

1. **Pre-Market**: Open Snapshot, check Yesterday for overnight flow
2. **9:30 AM**: Switch to Today, watch for first 3x+ ratio
3. **Throughout Day**: Monitor flow shifts (bullish to bearish or vice versa)
4. **Before Close**: Review This Week for swing ideas

### Decision Tree

```
START → Snapshot
Flow ratio?
├─ 3x+ bullish → Confirm with chart → Consider calls
├─ 3x+ bearish → Confirm with chart → Consider puts
├─ 5x+ extreme → Contrarian fade possible
└─ Under 3x → Low conviction, wait for clearer signal
```

### Top 5 Rules

1. **3x+ = signal** - Below 3x is noise
2. **Confirm with chart** - Flow + price action = conviction
3. **5x+ = extreme** - Consider fading, not following
4. **Use time filters** - Today for day trades, This Week for swings
5. **Flow shifts matter** - Reversals = momentum opportunities

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## Common Questions

**What does the ratio mean?**

Call premium divided by put premium (or vice versa). 3:1 bullish = $3 of call buying for every $1 of put buying.

**How often does Snapshot update?**

Real-time as new flow comes in. Same data as OptionFlow, aggregated by sentiment.

**Can I search a specific ticker?**

Yes. Use the ticker filter to see sentiment for one stock.

**What if flow is bullish but price is down?**

Flow can lead. Check if it's a new shift (reversal) or if price hasn't caught up yet. Confirm with support levels.

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## Next Steps

- [Reading Sentiment](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/snapshot/reading-sentiment) - Four sentiment trading strategies