Blockchain as we know is a decentralized database. Blockchain is a series of blocks that contain certain data. Every block in a blockchain has data that is not included in the last block. New blocks are added by the nodes of the blockchain.
In the case of the Bitcoin blockchain, a new block is created every 10 minutes. All the transactions that happened in the last 10 minutes are added to a new block. Bitcoin blockchain stores the transaction data of all the bitcoin transactions.
But in the case of the Ethereum blockchain, as we have discussed Ethereum is an open-sourced decentralized network, where we can deploy smart contracts and create cryptocurrency tokens. So the blocks in the Ethereum blockchain contain the transaction data of Ether(native token), the transaction data of all the tokens(ERC20, ERC721) built on the Ethereum network, and also the data when a smart contract is executed.
Every transaction in a blockchain has a timestamp, the date and time at which the transaction has occurred. Sender's and Receiver's addresses, the amount transferred in the transaction, and the fee associated with the transaction. Also, every transaction in a blockchain has a transaction hash, and every block has a block hash. Hash is a 64 digit hexadecimal number. It is unique for every transaction and every block.
Every blockchain has to store all this data and every node on the blockchain has a copy of the data of the whole blockchain. We know blockchain is transparent. It means that everyone can view the data on a blockchain. Everyone can check the status of your transaction except the blockchain doesn't reveal your identity. Block Explorers help you to navigate the blockchain and can provide all the data you need which is present on the blockchain.
What are Block Explorers?
Block Explorers are the search engines of blockchains. Block explorers help you to find all the data regarding a block in a blockchain. Every cryptocurrency has its own nodes and its own block explorers.
As we know, every node in a blockchain has a copy of the blockchain. Every node can explore the blockchain as they have all the data. But this data is not in a searchable format. Block explorers use APIs and data from the nodes to present the block data in a user searchable format.
Block explorers have all kinds of blockchain data. You can know the details of all the latest blocks and latest transactions as they are mined. Block explorers also show you the network hash rate, number of transactions in the last 24 hrs, transaction volume and number of pending transactions, average fees per transaction, etc.
Every cryptocurrency has its own block explorer. For the cryptocurrency tokens which exist the blockchain of another cryptocurrency network, they share the block explorer as they exist on the same blockchain. For example, Etherscan is the block explorer for Ether and Etherscan is also the block explorer for Uniswap(UNI), Basic Attention Token(BAT) and all other tokens that exist on the Ethereum blockchain.
How to Use Block Explorers?
- Check the status of a transaction using the transaction hash. Suppose your friend has told you, he has sent you some bitcoin but you didn't receive them. You can ask him the transaction id/transaction hash to check the status of the transaction for yourself.
- You can enter your address and get your transaction history and details of all the transactions you have done till now.
- You can also explore the sender's or receiver's address in a transaction and the chain of addresses from which a particular address has received the amount
- You can search the block explorers with block hash, transaction hash, address, and even by the block height.
Typing '0' in a block explorer will give you the first block of the blockchain.
Block Explorers of Top Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin(BTC) Block Explorers
Ethereum Block Explorers
BNB Block Explorers
Cardano Block Explorers
Ripple(XRP) Block Explorers
Dogecoin Block Explorers
Polkadot(DOT) Block Explorers
Tron(TRX) Block Explorers
Polygon(MATIC) Block Explorers
Solana Block Explorers
Block explorers are very useful while sending funds to anonymous addresses. You can check the authenticity of smart contracts using block explorers. Explorers also give the reason for a pending transaction. Explorers can help as great research tools for analysis on an address or blockchain.
Here is my Bitcoin wallet address 1J62bDK7XH2J48WgCaHUPFxDHykedGoJY6. Comment the date on which the last transaction has occurred, the amount transferred and all the details you can get on a Bitcoin block explorer.
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