What is Etherscan?
Etherscan is an Ethereum blockchain block browser and analytic platform. How does it work? What is its function? Let’s find out!
A Malaysian development team launched the project in 2015. It is a separate organization that is not supported by the Ethereum Foundation.
The service is intended to help users navigate publicly available network data by tracking transactions and displaying results in the manner of a search engine.
Addresses, smart contracts, blocks, network status, and other on-chain indicators are all detailed on the platform.
In 2021, Etherscan developers introduced a number of similar services for BNB Chain, Fantom, Huobi Eco Chain, Optimistic Ethereum L2, Polygon, Hoo Smart Chain, Arbitrum, Moonbeam, Moonriver and Avalanche.
How can Etherscan be used?
Etherscan is a blockchain information source and smart contract database. The service does not store private keys, does not participate in any of the operations displayed, and does not prevent transaction failure.
Etherscan’s primary functions include network monitoring, transaction processing, and asset discovery for assets stored on public Ethereum addresses.
The service’s main page displays key indicators such as the coin price, market capitalization, number of transactions, average gas price, and information about the complexity of Ethereum mining.
Moreover, Etherscan serves as an aggregator of data on the state of the blockchain and tokens. The Resources section presents various metrics and statistics for primary analytics: the daily chart of the Ethereum price, the capitalization chart, the number of coins in circulation and other data.
The Tokens menu displays current information about ERC-20, ERC-721, and ERC-1155 tokens, including the price, percentage change in value, trading volume, capitalization, and total number of addresses where the asset is stored.
The service displays information about Ethereum network transactions, such as failed or pending confirmations.
For example, if the funds have not yet appeared in the recipient’s wallet, you can use the transaction identifier to view data on the transfer’s progress (TXID). The service will display the approximate time of operation confirmation as well as other details.
What else can you do with Etherscan?
- Check the assets associated with a public wallet address, as well as track portfolio data and transaction history.
- Find the details and status of any transaction using TXID, wallet address or ENS domain name.
- Check any smart contract. The service provides data
on the availability of a security audit for the source code of the project. - Monitor transactions and blocks in real time.
- Calculate the gas commission and mining profitability;
- Use the directory of resources related to Ethereum.
The service also displays addresses associated with suspicious activity. For example, the address of the Lazarus grouping is marked with a warning bar.
Do you need to sign up on Etherscan?
Registration is optional, but it provides additional benefits for users: address tracking and setting up transaction notifications, private notes and access to developer tools.
How can you check the transaction data?
For instance, suppose you sent 1 ETH to another user’s public address and want to ensure that the transaction was successful.
In the Etherscan search bar, enter the Ethereum wallet address or transaction ID.
In 2021, Etherscan added support for the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) distributed domain name system.
If the address’s owner employs ENS, specify the domain name associated with it rather than the blockchain address (0x…).
If you search by TXID, the following information will be displayed on the page: hash and status, block number and time, sender and recipient address, number of coins and transaction fee, gas price, and the market value of Ethereum. A registered user can leave a private note for the operation.
Viewing transactions in the recipient’s wallet is another way to determine the status.
Where can you see the wallet data?
In the Etherscan search bar, enter a public address or domain name. Basic information about the wallet, such as the balance and amount of Ethereum, will be displayed at the top of the page. The Token menu displays a list of the address owner’s assets and non-interchangeable tokens (NFT).
At the bottom of the page, there is a list of all operations related to the wallet, analytics, and comments.
The transaction hash, method, block number, date, sender, recipient, amount of Ethereum, and commission are all listed in the Transactions section. Incoming operations are labeled In, and outgoing operations are labeled Out.
If you have anything to add to Etherscan topic, welcome to our comments!
In terms of tracking the updates, subscribe to our Medium feed.Stay tuned!