Ethereum (ETH) is by far one of the most popular decentralized blockchain platforms that have managed to historically establish itself as a peer-to-peer (P2P) network by being able to securely execute and verify application code.
This code is known as smart contracts, and these are responsible for allowing participants to essentially transact with one another without the reliance of a trusted central authority.
As such, Ethereum is a flexible platform on top of which numerous developers have created decentralized applications (dApps) through the usage of its native scripting language known as Solidity and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
However, prior to the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade that is expected to occur in late 2022, which will move the network to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, for the time being, Ethereum is secured through the usage of Proof-of-Work (PoW).
As such, miners verify transactions, which then get bundled into blocks and put in front of a previously verified block, creating a chain of blocks known as the blockchain.
An Ethereum explorer is a tool that will let you access all and any of the data stored on those blocks that are meant to be publicly accessible.
As such, today, we are going to go over everything that you need to know when it comes to understanding and using an Ethereum blockchain explorer.
Key Points:
- Ethereum has been the go-to platform for the development of decentralized applications (dApps) due to its smart contract functionality and overall adoption.
- Ethereum is home to numerous decentralized finance (DeFi) based applications, and there are numerous altcoins developed on this specific blockchain network.
- The native cryptocurrency token that is used across the Ethereum network is known as Ether and goes by the ticker symbol ETH.
- NOWNodes is a provider of over 50 nodes and block explorers that you can connect to, one of which is an Ethereum block explorer.
So what is ETH block explorer?
An Ethereum block explorer is a tool that can be seen from the perspective of a search engine; however, one that specializes in enabling users the opportunity to connect to a specific blockchain network.
In this case, the blockchain network is Ethereum, and the block explorer is purpose-built for that specific blockchain and enables users access to the data found within it.
What this essentially means is that each user is given the opportunity to explore a wide range of data types, such as the state of the transactions, the transaction history, balances of addresses, the hash rate, or anything else that they might be interested in.
If it is a type of data that gets publicly recorded on the blockchain, the chances are high that anyone can connect and be able to view and analyze it.
How does an Ethereum block explorer work?
Whenever a trader, for example, would buy the Ether (ETH) cryptocurrency and send it to a specific wallet address, through the power of the ETH block explorer, they would be able to verify that the transaction did indeed occur and was successfully recorded on top of the blockchain network. Furthermore, they are also provided with the opportunity to view the payments for their specific wallet addresses.
The functionality of an ETH block explorer is not, however, limited to the perspective and use-cases of traders.
Remember, prior to Ethereum switching to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), which is set to occur with the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade in 2022, although no specific date has been set yet, for the time being, Ethereum uses Proof-of-Work (PoS). This means that miners can take advantage of an ETH block explorer and ensure that their systems have indeed mined a block and that they have received the reward for doing so in the form of ETH.
Furthermore, people can take an additional step and find numerous details surrounding a project, even before they engage in it in any way. Let’s say that you are a curious person just interested in learning more about how a blockchain works; in this case, the Ethereum token explorer will provide you with this opportunity.
What this means is that an Ethereum block explorer lets you explore a live feed of all of the blockchain transactions and any of the data that gets recorded. This is why an Ethereum transaction explorer can be convenient.
You can access the public history of Ethereum addresses and can figure out what they have received and their account balances through an ETH explorer.
Some explorer Ethereum options will even allow you to have an additional level of functionality, where you can view the biggest transactions of the day. Keep in mind, however, that each blockchain explorer will have its own structure through which you can access the data you need, and with ETH, blockchain explorer services will typically enable you access to specific commands. Note that this is different from an Ethereum Classic block explorer, as that is a completely different blockchain.
Why use a block explorer?
The main reason why you might be interested in using a block explorer is to get the data from the blockchain.
Ethereum will enable you to build decentralized applications (dApps) on top of it by using smart contracts and the Solidity scripting language. By using a blockchain explorer, you gain access to other types of data that can aid you in this aspect.
You can also analyze the network congestion in order to get cheaper gas fees on Ethereum, specifically due to the fact that you will be able to make and execute trades at a point in time when the network is not as active.
How to use a block explorer?
To use a blockchain explorer ETH, you will need to make requests within the block explorer.
You can also use a simple user interface to access the public data in an instant. NOWNodes is a blockchain-as-a-service provider that will enable you to get access to both kinds of access points.
How to make a request?
If you want to make a request through the usage of the NOWNodes block explorer, you will need to use some of the commands listed on the official documentation.
Remember to go to the official documentation here to find all of the required information.
Here are just some examples of the type of data you can access through this method.
To get access to the tickets list through the ETH blockchain explorer, you can use the following command:
- https://eth-blockbook.nownodes.io/api/v2/tickers-list/?timestamp=<timestamp>
Here is what an example of that would look like once entered:
Let’s say, for example, that you want to get the block hash.
You can use this command in order to do so:
- https://eth-blockbook.nownodes.io/api/v2/block-index/<block height>
Here is how all of that looks with a real example:
Our Ethereum Block explorer
NOWNodes features a block explorer for Ethereum. See ETH block explorer.
Here, you can get access to three main types of data, including general, stats, and backend data.
The general tab here shows you the price of the coin in question, its host, version, synchronization, mempool, and chain.
The stats tab will give you access to information surrounding the last block, last update, transactions in the mempool, and the size of the disk.
Then there’s the backend tab on the block explorer Ethereum, where you will be able to view the version, the last block, the difficulty as well as the size of the disk.
On the top right side of the screen, you will also be able to review the price of the Ether (ETH) cryptocurrency, ranging from All, 5 Years, 1 Year, 3 Months, 1 Month, and 1 Day, which will give you a higher perspective as to how the token is performing both as a trader as well as a miner.
The Takeaway
The Ethereum (ETH) blockchain is one of the most popular networks when it comes to the development of decentralized applications (dApps) within the sphere of decentralized finance (DeFi). The network has also become the largest when it comes to the creation, or in other words, the minting of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
As such, it is no wonder why so many developers and investors are starting to have an interest in this specific project and have interest in using a blockchain explorer Ethereum.
If you are interested in creating dApps on top of the Ethereum network, or just want to launch non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or even just trade the token, a Ethereum chain explorer can give you access to valuable data that will assist you when it comes to the realization of all of these goals.
NOWNodes is a blockchain-as-a-service provider that will allow you to easily access an ETH block explorer within a span of minutes, one that is always online, and one that will showcase all of the data you need in an easy-to-understand and clear view.
