What is a Blockchain Explorer?

What is a Blockchain Explorer?

A blockchain explorer, simply put, is a tool used to view all public information on a blockchain. It’s like a diary that records every transaction, block generation, smart contract deployment, and other activities on the blockchain.

What Can a Blockchain Explorer Do?

• Transaction lookup: You can input a specific transaction hash to view detailed information about the transaction, including sender, recipient, transaction amount, and timestamp.
• Address lookup: By entering a wallet address, you can view all transaction records, balance, and smart contract interactions associated with that address.
• Block lookup: Inputting a block number allows you to view the transactions contained in that block, generation time, miner, and other information.
• Smart contract code viewing: If a blockchain supports smart contracts, you can view the smart contract code deployed on the chain.
• On-chain data statistics: Blockchain explorers typically provide various on-chain data statistics, such as transaction volume, network hash rate, and token prices.

Why Do We Need a Blockchain Explorer?

• Transparency: Blockchain explorers make all data on the blockchain transparent and visible, allowing anyone to verify it.
• Security: By viewing transaction records, you can confirm whether funds have arrived and avoid fraud.
• Development: Developers can use blockchain explorers to debug smart contracts and analyze on-chain data.
• User experience: Users can use blockchain explorers to understand their asset status and participate in decentralized applications.

Common Blockchain Explorers

• Etherscan: The most commonly used blockchain explorer for Ethereum, with very powerful features.
• Blockchain.com: Supports multiple blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
• OKLink: OKLink provides rich blockchain data query functions.
• Tokenview: Provides browser services for multiple chains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tron.

How to Use a Blockchain Explorer?

Most blockchain explorers have similar interfaces and functions. Generally, you only need to enter an address, transaction hash, or block number to query the relevant information.

Summary

Blockchain explorers are essential tools for understanding the blockchain ecosystem. Through them, you can gain a deep understanding of how blockchains work and participate in various decentralized applications.