Lab API
Flow DEX
Flow DEX API
Live delta exposure: net total and per-strike profile, computed on effective OI.
Works with CME futures.
Pass
ES=F or NQ=F and URL-encode the = as %3D - e.g. /v1/flow/dex/ES%3DF. Flow analytics recompute on intraday effective OI; options-on-futures are priced with Black-76 ($50/pt ES, $20/pt NQ). CME futures and flow are Growth-tier. See the futures hub.
Endpoint
Auth required (
X-Api-Key)
Rate Limited: Yes
Growth plan+
Parameters
| Name | In | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
symbol |
path | yes | - | Underlying symbol |
expiry |
query | no | all expiries | Filter chain to a single expiry (yyyy-MM-dd). Omit to aggregate across all expiries |
curl -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
"https://lab.flashalpha.com/v1/flow/dex/SPY"import requests
resp = requests.get(
"https://lab.flashalpha.com/v1/flow/dex/SPY",
headers={"X-Api-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"}
)
data = resp.json()
print(f"Live net DEX: ${data['live_net_dex']:,.0f}")const resp = await fetch(
"https://lab.flashalpha.com/v1/flow/dex/SPY",
{ headers: { "X-Api-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY" } }
);
const data = await resp.json();
console.log(`Live net DEX: $${data.live_net_dex.toLocaleString()}`);Response
{
"symbol": "SPY",
"as_of": "2026-05-12T18:42:10Z",
"underlying_price": 597.505,
"expiry": "2026-05-15",
"live_net_dex": -480000000,
"strikes": [
{
"strike": 595.0,
"call_dex": 5800000,
"put_dex": 4400000,
"net_dex": 10200000
}
]
}Key Response Fields
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
symbol | string | Underlying symbol |
as_of | string | ISO 8601 timestamp |
underlying_price | number | Current price of underlying |
live_net_dex | number | Net delta exposure across strikes, computed on effective OI |
strikes | array | Per-strike call DEX, put DEX, and net DEX on effective OI |
About Flow DEX
Flow DEX is the live counterpart to /v1/exposure/dex. The settled version uses morning OPRA-broadcast OI and stays frozen all day; this endpoint runs the same delta-exposure math on the OI simulator's effective open interest, so net DEX and the per-strike profile keep moving as positioning shifts. Use it to track directional dealer hedging pressure in real time.
Common Use Cases
- Read directional bias off
live_net_dex- track the sign and magnitude intraday and flag the moment net DEX flips, marking a shift in net dealer directional positioning - Estimate hedging flow with GEX - combine
live_net_dexwith live net GEX to size the share volume dealers must trade to stay delta-neutral as spot moves - Detect skew from per-strike DEX - compare
strikes[].call_dexvsstrikes[].put_dexto surface call-skewed (upside-chasing) or put-skewed (downside-hedged) positioning - Locate the directional center of gravity - scan
strikes[].net_dexfor the strikes carrying the heaviest directional exposure that price tends to gravitate around - Diff against settled DEX - contrast net and per-strike DEX with
/v1/exposure/dexto see where directional positioning has actually moved since the open - Confirm GEX signals - use the DEX direction to corroborate a regime read from Live Flow GEX before committing to a directional trade
Related
Related reading
- Flow vs exposure endpoints: which GEX API to use - when to reach for live flow vs the settled exposure endpoints
- Effective open interest: live GEX from flow - the effective-OI methodology this DEX is recomputed on
Complementary endpoints
- Delta Exposure (DEX) - the settled morning baseline to diff this live DEX against
- Live Flow GEX - live gamma to pair with directional delta exposure
- Live Flow Levels - walls and flip that frame where directional pressure builds
- Flow Summary - a one-call digest of live positioning across the flow endpoints