How to Access Algorand Node RPC API – Full Tutorial

Welcome to our new tutorial! This guide we dedicate to one of the best-performing networks that collect unique use cases and new-gen technologies – Algorand. In this article we’re going to provide you with the most important knowledge on how to work with Algorand RPC Full Nodes via our Node and Indexer API. Moreover, we will cover the Algorand API methods developers need to utilize for the wallet, dApp, or other web3 development case needs.

This tutorial was created and reviewed by NOWNodes – a web3 nodeOps tooling and node API provider. We support almost 100 blockchain networks, including Algorand on Mainnet and Testnet, with shared and dedicated access.

You can download this article to use it later for development and educational purposes  🙂

What is an Algorand RPC Node?

Time to review what Algorand nodes are, why developers use them, and how to interact with them!

An Algorand node is a software entity that participates in the Algorand network, a decentralized, permissionless public blockchain designed to solve the blockchain trilemma of achieving speed, security, and decentralization simultaneously. The Algorand protocol is built on a pure proof-of-stake (PPoS) consensus mechanism, which distinguishes it from traditional proof-of-work (PoW) systems.

Developers and crypto enterprises utilize Algorand RPC node instances to build decentralized applications (dApps), test and deploy smart contracts, and DeFi tools on Algorand ledger. These Algorand nodes allow builders to interact with the node to submit transactions, query Algorand blockchain data, and integrate with external applications. 

Algorand RPC node plays a vital role in any web3 application that involves transactions and blockchain data usage. For instance, using a fast, reliable and good access to Algorand nodes guarantees great user experience for end-users of dApps and DeFi platforms on Algorand.

Builders access Algorand blockchain for web3 development needs via different types of API: the Node API and Indexer API. Let’s take a closer look at Algorand Indexer.

What is an Algorand Indexer API?

The Algorand Indexer is a standalone service that indexes the blockchain data of an Algorand node. It provides a more efficient way to search and access blockchain data compared to querying a node directly. The Indexer is especially useful for applications that require fast and complex queries of the blockchain data.

The backend of the Algorand Indexer API is designed to efficiently manage and query large amounts of data from the Algorand blockchain. Its primary function is to provide a more accessible and efficient means of querying blockchain data than directly querying a node, especially for complex or large-scale queries. Regarding the use cases, Algorand Indexer is utilized by crypto wallets and data analytics tools (including Anti Money Laundering bot).

Working with the database, we provide the API layer for Algorand Indexer. This instance exposes various endpoints for querying blockchain data.The API layer handles request processing, query execution, and data formatting to return results to the user. The Indexer continuously syncs with an Algorand node to update its database with the latest blockchain transactions and states. This synchronization ensures that the Indexer provides up-to-date information, which is crucial for applications that rely on timely and accurate blockchain data.

We’re moving forward to the most interesting part – a technical guide on how to access Algorand RPC Full Node and Indexer via NOWNodes Algorand API.

How to Interact with the Algorand RPC Full Nodes and Explorer? A Full Tutorial

In order to utilize Injective blockchain API endpoints and obtain access to the Injective nodes, you need to connect to the Injective blockchain via our endpoints. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Create your Algorand API key at NOWNodes

Go to the NOWNodes website (https://nownodes.io/injective-inj) and create a profile with your email address. The registration process is quite simple and unified: after creating your account, you need to verify your email address.

Then, you can proceed to the Dashboard and create your personal private API key which you can use to access Algorand RPC Full Nodes with the Indexer API.

Step 2.1: Connect to Algorand RPC Nodes via preferred API environment

Before we proceed, you should choose what API environment you plan to use. Additionally, you can use Algorand RPC Full Node and Indexer directly by integrating the API endpoints in your code. 

• Use the general endpoint algo.nownodes.io to connect to the Injective RPC Full Node; 
• We support all methods which are located in our official Documentation and Telegram Builders Community. Feel free to use and utilize them.

Here’s an example of a request to see how to simulate a raw transaction on Algorand:

curl --location 'https://algo.nownodes.io/v2/transactions/simulate?format=json' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'Accept: application/json' \
--header 'X-Algo-API-Token: <API Key>' \
--data '{
  "txn-groups": [
    {
      "txns": [
        "<string>",
        "<string>"
      ]
    },
    {
      "txns": [
        "<string>",
        "<string>"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "allow-empty-signatures": "<boolean>",
  "allow-more-logging": "<boolean>",
  "allow-unnamed-resources": "<boolean>",
  "extra-opcode-budget": "<integer>",
  "exec-trace-config": {
    "enable": "<boolean>",
    "stack-change": "<boolean>",
    "scratch-change": "<boolean>",
    "state-change": "<boolean>"
  }
}'

Step 2.2: Connect to Algorand Indexer API via preferred API environment

To access the Algorand Indexer API, you will need to use another endpoint and specific methods. Make sure you have a PRO pricing plan or higher.

• Import this endpoint algo-index.nownodes.io to your code in order to connect to the Indexer instance;
• We support all methods which are located in our official Documentation and Telegram Builders Community. Try them out by adding the endpoint from above and your NOWNodes API key.

Here’s an example of a request that will list the balances on specific Algorand-related instances:

curl --location 'https://algo-index.nownodes.io/v2/assets/{asset-id}/balances'

Conclusion

Algorand nodes and the Algorand Indexer API play pivotal roles in the architecture of the Algorand blockchain, each serving distinct but complementary purposes. Algorand nodes, as integral software entities of the Algorand network, facilitate developers and crypto enterprises in building decentralized applications, deploying smart contracts, and developing DeFi tools on the Algorand ledger. 

On the other hand, the Algorand Indexer API, with its backend designed for large-scale data management and querying, provides a more streamlined and efficient approach to accessing blockchain data. It stands out for its ability to handle complex queries and provide up-to-date information, making it indispensable for crypto wallets, data analytics tools, and applications requiring timely blockchain data.

Let’s build the future of blockchain with Algorand! NOWNodes will be here to support you with fast, secure, and scalable access to Algorand Node and Indexer API.