What is Etherscan?
Etherscan is Ethereum's premier blockchain explorer and analytics platform.
Etherscan serves as a comprehensive block explorer for the Ethereum blockchain, allowing users to search, browse, and analyze various aspects of Ethereum transactions and blocks. It provides detailed information about each transaction and block, including hash, timestamp, gas used, and more.
How Etherscan Works
Etherscan operates by engaging with the Ethereum blockchain and its data, facilitating a user-friendly method to explore Ethereum. This process can be broken down into three fundamental steps:
- Real-time Retrieval of Ethereum Data: Etherscan utilizes JSON-RPC (Remote Procedure Call), a specialized form of RPC in Ethereum, to fetch information from the Ethereum network.
- Maintenance of a Structured Data Repository: Ethereum data resides on dedicated computers known as nodes, akin to servers in the Ethereum network. However, conventional software cannot directly interface with these nodes.
- Presentation of Data in Near Real-Time to Users: When Etherscan requires data or initiates actions within the Ethereum network, it sends requests to RPC endpoints, akin to virtual addresses. These endpoints then retrieve the necessary information from Ethereum nodes.
Therefore, Etherscan leverages the JSON-RPC API to dispatch queries to RPC endpoints (which correspond to Ethereum nodes), receiving real-time updates to maintain a responsive service for its diverse user base.
Key services & use cases powered by Etherscan as a Web3 infrastructure provider
- Explore Wallet Addresses: Users can search and explore Ethereum wallet addresses using Etherscan. It displays detailed information such as ETH balance, token holdings (including ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens like NFTs), transaction history, and analytics. Users can track their own wallets or explore others' addresses.
- View Transactions and Blocks: Etherscan provides tools to analyze the Ethereum network at a macro level. Users can view statistics like Ether price, market capitalization, average gas prices, transaction speeds, and network upgrades. It offers comprehensive records of all Ethereum blocks and transactions, enabling deep insights into network activities.
- Interact with Smart Contracts: Smart contracts are integral to Ethereum’s functionality, and Etherscan allows users to interact with them directly. Users can search for specific smart contracts, view contract details (such as deployment information and total token supply), read contract code, and even execute functions through Etherscan’s interface.
- Track Gas Fees: Gas fees are crucial for Ethereum transactions, and Etherscan provides real-time information about current gas prices. Users can monitor gas fees for various types of transactions (e.g., token transfers, smart contract interactions) to optimize their transaction costs.
