---
id: "T:cAlgo.API.OptimizationMethod"
kind: "enum"
namespace: "cAlgo.API"
url: "https://help.ctrader.com/ctrader-algo/references/Plugin/Optimization/OptimizationMethod/"
---

> Documentation index for agents: https://help.ctrader.com/ctrader-algo/llms.txt · machine index: https://help.ctrader.com/ctrader-algo/api.json

# OptimizationMethod (enum)

Specifies the method used to explore the parameter space during optimization.

Environments: Desktop supported · CLI not supported · Cloud not supported.

- CLI: Available to plugins only, and plugins cannot run in the CLI.
- Cloud: Available to plugins only, and plugins cannot run in the cloud.

## Definition

```csharp
public enum OptimizationMethod
```

Available since cAlgo.API 5.9.

## Examples

C#:

```csharp
var criteria = new[] { new OptimizationCriterion(OptimizationCriterionType.NetProfit, OptimizationCriterionDirection.Maximize) };
var settings = new OptimizationSettings(new DateTime(2025, 1, 1), new DateTime(2025, 2, 1), 10000, criteria) { Method = OptimizationMethod.Grid };
Print("Optimization method: {0}", settings.Method);
```

Python:

```python
from System import DateTime
criteria = [OptimizationCriterion(OptimizationCriterionType.NetProfit, OptimizationCriterionDirection.Maximize)]
settings = OptimizationSettings(DateTime(2025, 1, 1), DateTime(2025, 2, 1), 10000, criteria)
settings.Method = OptimizationMethod.Grid
api.Print(f"Optimization method: {settings.Method}")
```

## Values

- `OptimizationMethod.Genetic` — Genetic algorithm — explores a subset of parameter combinations heuristically.
- `OptimizationMethod.Grid` — Grid search — exhaustively evaluates every parameter combination.