In this tutorial, we will learn how you can unleash its potential by enabling Ethereum JSON-RPC methods.
With NOWNodes, it takes less than a second to connect to Ethereum RPC nodes. So, today we will guide you through the process of accessing the Ethereum RPC node and the Ethereum RPC endpoints with the node as a service NOWNodes. With Ethereum RPC nodes you can easily utilize all the Ethereum JSON methods.
Before we dive into the process of enabling ETH methods, we explore some key features of ETH JSON-RPC for your Web3 development.
Key Features of Ethereum JSON-RPC in DApp Development
Ethereum has revolutionized the world of blockchain technology with wide opportunities to build innovative decentralized applications. To interact with the Ethereum network, developers rely on various methods, one of which is Ethereum JSON-RPC (Remote Procedure Call).
JSON-RPC stands for JavaScript Object Notation – Remote Procedure Call. It is a protocol that allows clients to make requests to a server and receive responses. In the context of Ethereum, JSON-RPC is used to interact with the Ethereum network, including querying blockchain data, sending transactions, and more.
At its core, JSON-RPC is a simple and lightweight protocol that uses HTTP or WebSocket as the transport layer. It follows a request-response model, where a client sends a request to a server and waits for a response. An ETH JSON-RPC request consists of a method, which represents the action to be performed, and optional parameters that provide additional information. The server processes the request and sends back an ETH JSON-RPC response, which includes the result of the requested action or an error message.
Ethereum JSON-RPC plays a crucial role in blockchain development by providing a bridge between the Ethereum blockchain and external applications. Here are some key roles of Ethereum JSON-RPC in dApp development:
First of all, it’s about the blockchain Interaction. JSON-RPC allows developers to have a direct conversation with the Ethereum blockchain. Web3 businesses and crypto projects can send requests and eagerly await responses filled with valuable blockchain data. Moreover, they can retrieve account balances, dig into transaction history, and so much more.
Next up is transaction management. JSON-RPC makes it easier for businesses and crypto projects to create and manage transactions on the Ethereum network by providing JSON-RPC methods. They can effortlessly create and sign transactions, estimate gas costs, and send them off into the network for execution.
The next issue is connected with event monitoring. ETH JSON-RPC gives developers the ability to receive real-time updates whenever specific events occur on the blockchain. This real-time functionality allows them to stay on top of things and respond swiftly when needed. It’s like having a radar that alerts us whenever something interesting happens in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Moreover, it’s important to mention wallet Integration. DApps often need to connect with user wallets to get things done on the Ethereum network. With Ethereum RPC developers can seamlessly integrate dApps with user wallets. This means users can conveniently sign transactions and authorize actions directly from their wallets.
Finally, we have custom functionality. ETH JSON-RPC is a flexible tool that supports custom methods. This means developers can get creative and extend the functionality of our dApps. They can create unique interactions with smart contracts and implement additional features that decentralized applications crave.
Ethereum JSON-RPC plays a crucial role in dApp development by providing a standardized protocol for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain. It provides developers with a standardized protocol that allows them to interact with the Ethereum blockchain seamlessly. Ethereum JSON-RPC helps developers to query blockchain data, manage transactions, monitor events, integrate wallets, and implement custom functionality in their dApps.
To utilize the Ethereum JSON-RPC, you need to establish a connection to an Ethereum RPC node. The easiest way to access an Ethereum RPC node is by utilizing a no-KYC node as a service provider NOWNodes. Additionally, if you have some extra financial, technical, and human resources, you can set up an Ethereum RPC node by yourself.
Accessing Ethereum RPC Node
The NOWNodes provider offers developers and crypto businesses access to full RPC nodes, block explorers, and WSS via API, enabling them to build Web3 projects on blockchain networks. So, you can easily access Ethereum RPC nodes by utilizing this node as a service provider. NOWNodes presents a convenient choice for Web3 developers who wish to interact with the Ethereum network, guaranteeing reliability and security.
NOWNodes caters to developers and businesses of all sizes. By accessing the Ethereum RPC node, available Ethereum RPC endpoints, and progressive Web3 tools with the node as a service provider you can easily streamline your dApp development and focus on scaling your Web3 business.
With NOWNodes, you can access the following Ethereum RPC endpoints:
- Ethereum Mainnet RPC node;
- Ethereum Testnet RPC node;
- Mainnet Ethereum WebSocket connection;
- Testnet Ethereum WebSocket connection;
- Ethereum Mainnet Explorer;
- Ethereum Testnet Explorer.
The node as a service provider helps to connect to the Ethereum RPC API, so the process of interacting with the Ethereum network becomes effortless, eliminating the need for complicated setup or infrastructure management.
Here is a brief instruction to access an Ethereum RPC node through an RPC API key:
- Visit the NOWNodes website
- Sing Up
- Choose a Plan
- Select Blockchains
- Add New RPC API Key
- Explore the Methods
A user-friendly interface and flexible pricing tariffs fit any Web3 development needs. Moreover, NOWNodes provides users with a FREE plan. With this plan, you can easily access a full Ethereum RPC node and Ethereum block explorers for free. Moreover, not only Ethereum RPC endpoints may be utilized. With the FREE plan, you can access 5 blockchains and benefit from utilizing your private RPC API key for Web3 development.
With an RPC API key, developers can make RPC calls to the Ethereum RPC endpoint and retrieve data or perform actions on the blockchain. Developers can leverage Ethereum RPC methods to build Web3 applications, interact with the network, and retrieve data from the blockchain without the need to run and maintain Ethereum RPC nodes.
The NOWNodes node as a service provider offers high availability and reliability with 99.95% API uptime ensuring less than 1 second API response. The platform provides a variety of services that streamline the operation of an Ethereum RPC node, enabling you to concentrate on your primary goals without being burdened by any complexities.
Additionally, the node as a service provider offers a range of Ethereum JSON-RPC methods that developers can use to interact with the Web3 network.
Alternatively, you can run an Ethereum RPC node by yourself. Remember that this way is full of complexities that are connected with multiple business resources spending. Moreover, by running an Ethereum RPC node by yourself you always have to monitor its performance, updates, and security. Explore the NOWNodes blog and find out how to run an Ethereum node by yourself.
As you’ve discovered how to access Ethereum RPC nodes, it’s time to explore Ethereum JSON-RPC methods.
Exploring Ethereum JSON-RPC Methods
Ethereum JSON-RPC provides a wide range of methods that clients can use to interact with the Ethereum endpoints and network all. These Ethereum methods cover various functionalities, including account management, transaction handling, contract deployment, and smart contract execution.
Let’s take a look at some of the commonly used Ethereum JSON-RPC methods, including the types. Notice that all these methods may be utilized with NOWNodes Ethereum RPC endpoints.
Blockchain JSON-RPC Methods
ETH RPC methods that provide information about the blockchain, such as block number, block details, and transaction details. Here are the examples:
eth_blockNumber
This ETH JSON-RPC method is used to retrieve the number of the most recent block in the Ethereum blockchain. It does not take any parameters and returns the block number as a hexadecimal string.
eth_getBlockByNumber
This method allows you to retrieve information about a specific block by its number. The returned result includes various details of the block, such as the block number, hash, timestamp, transactions, and more.
eth_getTransactionByHash
This ETH JSON-RPC method is used to retrieve the details of a specific transaction by its hash. The returned result includes information about the transaction, such as the block number, sender and receiver addresses, gas price, input data, and more.
Account JSON-RPC Methods
ETH RPC methods that interact with Ethereum accounts, such as retrieving account balances, transaction counts, and signing transactions. Here are the RPC request examples:
eth_getBalance
The eth_getBalance method is used to retrieve the balance of a specific Ethereum account. The returned result is the account balance in Wei, the smallest unit of Ether in Ethereum.
eth_getTransactionCount
The ETH RPC method allows you to retrieve the number of transactions sent from a specific Ethereum account. The returned result is the number of transactions sent from the account.
eth_sign
The eth_sign method is used to sign a message or a transaction with the private key of an Ethereum account. The returned result is the signature of the message or transaction, which can be used for verification or further processing.
Transaction JSON-RPC Methods
Ethereum methods that handle transactions, such as sending signed transactions, estimating gas costs, and retrieving transaction receipts. Here are some examples of transaction Ethereum JSON-RPC method:
eth_sendRawTransaction
The eth_sendRawTransaction method is used to send a signed transaction to the Ethereum network for execution. It takes a single parameter: the signed transaction data as a hexadecimal string. The signed transaction includes details such as the recipient address, value to be transferred, gas limit, and more. If the transaction is successfully propagated to the network, the method returns the transaction hash.
eth_estimateGas
This ETH RPC method is used to estimate the amount of gas required for a transaction without actually executing it. The method simulates the execution of the transaction and returns an estimate of the gas required based on the current state of the network. This estimation helps in setting an appropriate gas limit for the transaction to ensure its successful execution.
eth_getTransactionReceipt
The eth_getTransactionReceipt method is used to retrieve the receipt of a specific transaction by its hash. It takes a single parameter: the transaction hash as a hexadecimal string. The transaction receipt includes information about the execution status, block number, gas used, logs generated, and more. If the transaction receipt is not available (e.g., if the transaction is still pending or not found), the method returns null.
Contract JSON-RPC Methods
ETH RPC methods that interact with smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum blockchain, such as retrieving contract bytecode, querying contract state, and calling contract functions. Here are RPC request examples:
eth_getCode
The eth_getCode method is used to retrieve the bytecode of a smart contract deployed at a specific address on the Ethereum blockchain. The returned result is the bytecode of the contract as a hexadecimal string.
eth_call
The eth_call method allows you to execute a message call transaction on the Ethereum blockchain without modifying the state. It takes a transaction object as a parameter, which includes details such as the sender address, recipient address, value, and data. The method simulates the execution of the transaction and returns the result or output of the contract function call.
eth_getStorageAt
The eth_getStorageAt method is used to retrieve the value stored at a specific storage position of an Ethereum account. The returned result is the value stored at the given storage position as a hexadecimal string. This method is useful for inspecting the internal state of a contract by accessing its storage variables.
Network JSON-RPC Methods
Ethereum methods that provide information about the Ethereum network, such as protocol version, client version, and network ID. Here are the examples:
net_version
The net_version method is used to retrieve the version number of the Ethereum network that the client is connected to. It does not take any parameters and returns the network version as a string. The network version represents the unique identifier of the Ethereum network, such as “1” for the mainnet, “3” for the Ropsten testnet, and so on.
net_peerCount
This method allows you to retrieve the number of peers that the client is currently connected to on the Ethereum network. It does not take any parameters and returns the peer count as an integer. The peer count represents the number of other Ethereum nodes that the client is connected to and actively communicating with.
net_listening
The net_listening method is used to check if the client is currently listening for network connections or not. It does not take any parameters and returns a boolean value. If the client is actively listening for network connections, the method returns true. Otherwise, it returns false.
Mining JSON-RPC Methods
These ETH RPC methods interact with the mining functionality of Ethereum, such as starting and stopping mining, setting mining parameters, and retrieving mining status. Here are the examples:
eth_mining
The eth_mining method is used to check if the client is currently mining or not. It does not take any parameters and returns a boolean value. If the client is actively mining, the method returns true. Otherwise, it returns false. Mining refers to the process of contributing computational power to the network to validate and add new blocks to the blockchain.
eth_hashrate
ETH RPC method that allows you to retrieve the current mining hashrate of the client. It does not take any parameters and returns the hashrate as an integer. The hashrate represents the speed at which the client’s mining hardware is performing hash calculations, typically measured in hashes per second (H/s) or other units like kilohashes per second (KH/s) or megahashes per second (MH/s).
eth_submitWork
The eth_submitWork method is used to submit a solution to a mining puzzle (proof-of-work) to the Ethereum network. The method is typically used by mining software or nodes that are actively participating in the mining process to submit their calculated solutions for block validation. If the submitted solution is valid and meets the network’s difficulty requirements, the client may be rewarded with Ether for successfully mining a new block.
Utility JSON-RPC Methods
These Ethereum methods provide various utility functions, such as converting between different units, generating random numbers, and checking if an address is a contract. Here are the RPC request examples:
eth_getCode
The eth_getCode method is used to retrieve the bytecode of a smart contract deployed at a specific address on the Ethereum blockchain. The returned result is the bytecode of the contract as a hexadecimal string. This method is useful for verifying the code of a deployed contract or interacting with contracts at a low level.
eth_getTransactionReceipt
The eth_getTransactionReceipt method is used to retrieve the receipt of a specific transaction by its hash. The transaction receipt includes information about the execution status, block number, gas used, logs generated, and more. If the transaction receipt is not available (e.g., if the transaction is still pending or not found), the method returns null.
These were the common Ethereum methods and ETH RPC examples. Each type serves a specific purpose and allows developers to interact with the Ethereum blockchain in different ways.
While working with ETH JSON-RPC in dApp development, you may encounter some common issues. Flow through the NOWNodes blog to explore troubleshooting tips to help you overcome them.
Let’s dive into and learn how to enable Ethereum JSON-RPC methods and utilize Ethereum RPC endpoints.
Enabling NOWNodes Ethereum JSON-RPC methods
Now that you have accessed Ethereum RPC nodes through the node as a service and learned common types of Ethereum JSON-RPC methods and the JSON-RPC examples, it’s time to discover how to utilize Ethereum methods effectively.
Follow these steps to make the most out of the node as a service provider Ethereum RPC endpoints:
- Choose the desired Ethereum method based on your development requirements.
- Construct the RPC request payload, including the necessary parameters. Authenticate your requests by including your RPC API key in the headers or query parameters.
- Send the RPC request to the NOWNodes Ethereum RPC endpoint, ensuring that it conforms to the ETH JSON-RPC specification.
- Parse and handle the RPC response, extracting the relevant data or error messages.
- Repeat the process for subsequent RPC calls, tailoring the payload and parameters as needed.
For example, utilizing the eth_syncing method would look like:
curl --location 'https://eth.nownodes.io/your_api_key' \ |
The provided code snippet is a cURL command used to make an HTTP POST request to the Ethereum RPC endpoint “https://eth.nownodes.io/your_api_key“.
The RPC request includes the following headers:
– “Content-Type: application/json“
The request body is a JSON object with the following parameters:
- “jsonrpc”: The version of the JSON-RPC protocol being used (in this case, “2.0”).
- “method”: The specific method being called on the API (in this case, “
eth_syncing“). - “params”: An empty array, indicating that no parameters are being passed to the method.
- “id”: A unique identifier for the request (in this case, “1”).
By executing this cURL command, you are requesting information about the Ethereum blockchain’s syncing status. This RPC request example will help you harness the power of NOWNodes Ethereum JSON-RPC methods to build robust and scalable dApps.
Conclusion
Ethereum JSON-RPC is a powerful tool that opens up a world of possibilities for blockchain development. In this comprehensive guide, we have explored the role of Ethereum JSON-RPC in blockchain development and discovered the types and powerful RPC methods. By understanding the basics of ETH JSON-RPC and leveraging JSON-RPC methods, you can unlock the full potential of Ethereum and build innovative applications.
All the ETH JSON-RPC methods in this article are provided by the node as a service provider. Remember, whether you are a developer looking to integrate Ethereum into your Web3 application or a crypto business seeking to leverage the power of blockchain technology, NOWNodes provides the tools and resources you need to succeed. Moreover, with the service, you do not need to worry about the problems that arise as you can always address your questions to the NOWNodes professional support team.
Get access to Ethereum RPC endpoints (such as Ethereum mainnet RPC, Ethereum testnet RPC, mainnet Ethereum WebSocket connection, testnet Ethereum WebSocket connection, Ethereum mainnet explorer, and Ethereum testnet explorer) with the node as a service NOWNodes and unlock the full potential of JSON methods!
