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Summary
Etherscan is a blockchain browser for the Ethereum network. The website can be used to search transactions, blocks, wallet addresses, smart contracts and other on-chain data. It is one of the most popular Ethereum blockchain browsers and is free to users.
Use Etherscan to learn more about how to interact with the blockchain, other wallets, and DAapps. Having this expertise can help keep your accounts safe and detect suspicious behavior.
Paste your wallet address, transaction ID (TXID), contract address or other identifier into the search box to start using Etherscan . Users can query what they need to know in the browser, but most of it is related information such as transactions, addresses, timestamps, and amounts.
In addition, you can directly interact with smart contracts and complete transactions, view gas fees, and search for airdrops through Etherscan.
Introduction
If you are using Ethereum for more than just holding it long term or sending a few transactions, then it will be helpful to learn how to navigate the blockchain. As one of the most popular choices, Etherscan is undoubtedly a great place to start learning the basics. There is no need to link a wallet or even open an account to use most of its features. Let’s take a look at the most common ways to use Etherscan and how to make use of the information found.
What is Etherscan?
Etherscan is a block browser that can be used to view public transaction data and smart contracts in the Ethereum blockchain Interact and view addresses, etc. All interactions in Ethereum are public, and you can use Etherscan to browse it like a search engine. Use the transaction hash function (transaction ID) to view all related activity, including tokens, smart contracts, and wallet addresses.
Etherscan does not require registration, but you can create a personal account to use its additional features. For example, set alert notifications for queuing transactions, accessing developer tools, and creating data sources.
Etherscan has not activated the Ethereum wallet function or stored private keys. Likewise, you cannot use it to conduct transactions. Etherscan can only be used as a blockchain information source and smart contract database. To trade or store cryptocurrencies, you need to have a cryptocurrency wallet such as Trust Wallet, MetaMask, Math Wallet or Binance Chain Wallet.
Why should you use Etherscan?
Etherscan is one of the most trusted and popular block explorers for Ethereum. However, more importantly, you should first understand why you need to use a block explorer such as Etherscan to view on-chain information. Understanding detailed methods of interacting with the blockchain helps to further understand DApps and transactions. Having this expertise can help keep your accounts safe and detect suspicious behavior.
With whale alerts, for example, you will be notified when large amounts of cryptocurrencies are flooding into the trading platform. While speculation could be skewed, this could mean a massive sell-off for cryptocurrencies. You can also learn how the project founders use the project tokens. Being aware of when developers abandon projects and sell cryptocurrencies can alert you to potential fraud or run-and-gun scams.
How to view transactions and wallets in Etherscan
Tracking transactions is a basic function of Etherscan. Understanding how to track cryptocurrency movements is the key to unlocking everything else about the blockchain. For example, assume 0.025 Ethereum (ETH) is sent from the wallet to the following public address: 0x480bbcb368197d44c6f54a738e59c33eff004b6a.
At the same time, a transaction fee of 0.001559212674537 Ethereum coins was also paid. After the transaction is completed, this transaction ID will be displayed in the wallet:
0x80a3cc0f344651b3de745b2f1efbe8d35d4f348e95b345c8a840ebf955414fa5
Suppose you want to check the transaction confirmation amount and verify whether it has been sent successfully, you can do the following:
1. Go to the Etherscan homepage and look for the search box at the top of the page.
2. Next, copy and paste the transaction ID (TXID) into the search box and press the search icon.
3. Screen All details about a specific transaction are displayed:
4. Press the [Click to see more] button, you can also Get more details. Now, let's take viewing the default display as an example:
Transaction Hash Function | A string of numbers and letters (TXID) associated with a specific transaction. |
Transaction status | Shows that the transaction has failed and is in progress. Still successful. |
Trading area Block | The block number of the transaction. You can also see the number of confirmed transactions. This shows the number of blocks added to the chain after the transaction block. |
Transaction timestamp | The timestamp added to the transaction block. |
From | The wallet address for submitting the transaction. |
To | Receive address or smart contract. |
Transaction value | The amount sent by the transaction. |
Transaction fees | The fee paid to complete the transaction. |
Fuel price | The unit gas cost of the transaction. |
TXN type | About the transaction is in the old version of the traditional gas fee system What is done under (1) is still done under the new EIP-1559 block charging system (2). |
Based on the above data, it can be seen at a glance whether the transaction has been successful and sufficient confirmation has been received. You can also check the transaction status by checking the receiving wallet.
Now, return to the search box and paste the receiving wallet address:
0x480bbcb368197d44c6f54a738e59c33eff004b6a
A list of all transactions related to the address can be seen at the bottom of the page :
The red transaction is the initial 0.025 Ether sent, marked Received, to indicate that the searched address is on the receiving end. An overview of your wallet balance is available at the top of the page.
How to check smart contracts in Etherscan
If you often To interact with smart contracts in DApp, you can try to learn how to search them in Etherscan. This allows you to check that funds are being sent to the correct contract.
If you add a new token to your wallet, you need to find the contract address of the token. Smart contract addresses contain token logic, such as how tokens are transferred and other operations.
Go to CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko or the official website of the project to find the token address. You can also view it by logging in to https://etherscan.io/tokens.
Be sure to double check through the above website to ensure that the added token address is correct. Let’s take a look at Uniswap ERC-20 tokens in Ethereum:
0x1f9840a85d5af5bf1d1762f925bdaddc4201f984
1. Please copy and paste the smart contract address into the search box.
2. You can see details about the contract balance and other general information about the Uniswap (UNI) token contract.
3. You can also view more options below, including transactions, comment sections, and the smart contract itself. Click [Contract] next to it to view applicable interaction options and read Uniswap rules.
4. Under the [Read Contract] tab, view the general information of the contract. For example, you can query the specific address or wallet balance of the tokens in the wallet that you have permission to use.
Click [Write Contract] to interact directly with the contract. This method is particularly useful when DeFi platforms and DApps are unavailable due to technical issues or website outages. In addition, you can also try to interact with smart contracts without using the project API.
Click [Associate Web3] to associate a cryptocurrency wallet like MetaMask or Binance Chain wallet and interact with the contract.
The simplest operation here is cryptocurrency transfer. Use the [Transfer Out] tab to transfer tokens from authorized addresses to other addresses.
Use the [Transfer] tab to transfer contract-related tokens from the associated wallet. The following transaction will send 1 UNI from the associated wallet to the pasted receiving wallet address. Please make sure the amount to be transferred has the correct number of decimal places.
Large Most users will not use these features. However, a little dabbling can help users understand how to access funds stored in smart contracts.
How to check gas price in Etherscan
The gas price is part of the Ethereum transaction fee. These fees are determined by the block in which the transaction occurs. Each block has its own fixed fee, which varies based on network traffic. The gas fee tracking page in Etherscan shows the amount and time changes of different gas fee prices. This is a very useful tool for roughly predicting network congestion and fees for simple transfers or complex smart contract interactions.
Summary
If you need to learn more about the wallet or trading platform, Etherscan is absolutely free and easy to use great tool. Users can quickly master the most basic functions in a short period of time. Etherscan has the basic functions of other block explorers (such as BscScan), so similar operating techniques can be easily used on other platforms. Whether confirming transaction status or viewing smart contracts for DApps of interest, Etherscan is the perfect tool to get started.