A backtest is verification on past data; a forward test is verification in live (real-time) operation. For choosing an EA, forward = live results are the trustworthy ones.
A backtest runs an EA over past market data; a forward test runs it on the ongoing market (demo/real account).
Why forward (live) matters
- Backtests can be "optimized to the past" (curve fitting). A great-looking curve may just be fitted to history.
- Real execution costs — spread, slippage, rejects — only appear correctly live.
- Live-account forward results are the most trustworthy record. TrackRecord publishes results auto-synced from real accounts.
See also real vs demo accounts.
