How to Use a Block Explorer
A block explorer is a tool that allows you to view blockchain data, including transactions, wallet balances, blocks, and network activity. It's like a search engine for a blockchain.
🔍 What Can You Do with a Block Explorer?
- Track transactions: See the status, confirmations, and amount.
- Check wallet balances: View all activity and token holdings of a wallet address.
- Explore blocks: Look up block height, miner, timestamp, and transaction details.
- Verify smart contract interactions: Understand if a smart contract call succeeded.
🛠 Popular Block Explorers by Chain
- Bitcoin: Blockchain.com
- Ethereum: Etherscan.io
- Solana: Solscan.io
- Base Chain: BaseScan.org
- Polygon: PolygonScan.com
- Arbitrum: Arbiscan.io
📘 Example: Tracking a Transaction on Ethereum
- Visit Etherscan.
- Paste your transaction hash (TXID) into the search bar.
- View transaction status, block confirmations, sender/receiver addresses, gas used, and more.
💡 Pro Tip
Always use the official explorer for a blockchain. Look for HTTPS and trusted URLs. Never connect your wallet to fake explorer sites.