Ethereum: How do APIs like Blockchain.info and BlockExplorer work?

Unleashing the Power of Ethereum’s Decentralized APIs: A Deep Dive into Blockchain.info and BlockExplorer

The Ethereum blockchain is an open-source, decentralized platform that enables peer-to-peer transactions without the need for intermediaries. To facilitate these interactions, various APIs (application programming interfaces) have been developed that provide access to data, functionality, and information about the Ethereum network. Blockchain.info and BlockExplorer are two prominent examples. In this article, we explore how these services work, the architecture that underlies them, and what they offer users.

Blockchain.info: The Official API

Blockchain.info is a popular platform that provides access to various Ethereum-related data sources. It provides an official API (application programming interface) that allows developers to query the blockchain for information about addresses, transactions, and other relevant details. When you query an address using the Blockchain.info API, you are not simply querying the last block that was mined.

Instead, the service uses a decentralized index of Ethereum data maintained by a network of nodes called the Ethereum Network Index (ENI). These nodes act as a distributed database that stores and retrieves information about Ethereum transactions. When you query an address using the Blockchain.info API, the node responsible for that particular address queries its local cache or interacts with other ENI nodes to retrieve the required data.

BlockExplorer: A Decentralized Data Aggregator

BlockExplorer is another major service that provides access to Ethereum blockchain data. It provides a decentralized data aggregation platform that collects and aggregates information from various sources, including Blockchain.info and others. When you query an address using the BlockExplorer API, you are essentially querying aggregated data from multiple sources.

Unlike Blockchain.info, which relies on local caches or interactions with ENI nodes, BlockExplorer uses a more distributed approach to retrieving data. The service aggregates data from multiple sources, which is then queried upon your request. This allows users to access a wider range of information about Ethereum transactions and addresses.

Key differences between the two services

Although both Blockchain.info and BlockExplorer offer APIs for querying data from the Ethereum blockchain, there are key differences in their approach:

• Data aggregation: Blockchain.info aggregates data from multiple sources using its own local cache or interactions with ENI nodes. In contrast, BlockExplorer uses a more decentralized approach to data aggregation.

• Data retrieval: When you query an address using the Blockchain.info API, the service retrieves the required data from its local cache or interacts with ENI nodes. When you query an address using the BlockExplorer API, the service aggregates data from multiple sources and queries them independently.

Conclusion

In summary, APIs like Blockchain.info and BlockExplorer play a crucial role in facilitating access to Ethereum blockchain data. While both services provide valuable insights into Ethereum addresses and transactions, their approaches to data aggregation, data retrieval, and scalability differ. As the Ethereum network continues to grow and evolve, it is important for developers and users to understand how these APIs work and what they offer. By leveraging these decentralized data sources, users can stay up to date with the latest developments on the Ethereum blockchain.

API Documentation

For more information on each service, check out their official documentation:

• Blockchain.info: [

• BlockExplorer: [