# Trace API Quickstart
> The Trace API provides insights into transaction processing and on-chain activity.
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## Trace API methods
The Trace API methods provide full externality trace functions on transactions executed in the Ethereum chain. You can filter by `address` information. The returned information includes the execution of the following:
* `CREATE`
* `SUICIDE`
* Variants of the `CALL`
* Input data
* Output data
* Gas usage
* Amount transferred
* Success status of individual actions
## Trace use cases
Common use cases for the Trace API include:
| Use case | Description | Endpoint |
| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Trace call | Executes the given call and returns a number of possible traces for it. | [`trace_call`](/docs/reference/trace-call) |
| Trace block | Returns the traces executed in the block. | [`trace_block`](/docs/reference/trace-block) |
| Trace get | Returns the traces for a transaction by its hash. | [`trace_get`](/docs/reference/trace-get) |
## Trace types
| Type | Parameter | Description | Network Support |
| ------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Transaction Trace | `trace` | Trace of your transaction. See [trace actions](/docs/reference/trace-api#opcodes-trace-actions) for details. | Ethereum Mainnet & Sepolia |
| State difference | `stateDiff` | Ethereum state changed values of a transaction. | Ethereum Mainnet & Sepolia |
| Virtual Machine Execution Trace | `vmTrace` | Runs a full trace of the VM's state & subcalls in the transaction. | None |
## Trace action types
### `CREATE`
* Creates a smart contract.
#### Example response
```json json
{
"action": {
"from": "0x6090a6e47849629b7245dfa1ca21d94cd15878ef",
"gas": "0x6a7f1",
"init": "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",
"value": "0xe4b4b8af6a70000"
},
"blockHash": "0x6d00f7707938cca36b0730d8f7f090543242002b6fa0fe94bf85b9ab02e6bed6",
"blockNumber": 4000036,
"result": {
"address": "0xfc9779d9a0f2715435a3e8ebf780322145d7546e",
"code": "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",
"gasUsed": "0x52ce0"
},
"subtraces": 0,
"traceAddress": [
0
],
"transactionHash": "0xc9601ea5ca42e57c3ef1d770ab0b278d6aadf2511a4feb879cba573854443423",
"transactionPosition": 70,
"type": "create"
},
```
**Create parameter definitions**
| Parameter | Description | Example |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `from` | The address that created the contract. | `0x6090a6e47849629b7245dfa1ca21d94cd15878ef` |
| `gas` | Contract gas fee to create the contract. | `0x6a7f1` |
| `init` | Initialization code to create the contract. | `0x6060604052604051602080610516833981016040...` |
| `value` | The value sent to the contract. | `0xe4b4b8af6a7000` |
| `blockHash` | Block hash ID in the transaction. | `0x6d00f7707938cca36b0730d8f7f090543242002b6fa0fe94bf85b9ab02e6bed6` |
| `blockNumber` | Transaction block number. | `4000036` |
| `address` | Location address of the new contract. | `0xfc9779d9a0f2715435a3e8ebf780322145d7546e` |
| `code` | The contract code. | `0x606060405236156100885763ffffffff60e060020...` |
| `gasUsed` | Required fee (gas) to create the contract. | `0x52ce0` |
| `subtraces` | Total number of transaction child traces. | `0` |
| `traceAddress` | Index of a trace & order of subcalls. | `0` |
| `transactionHash` | Hash ID of the transaction. | `0xc9601ea5ca42e57c3ef1d770ab0b278d6aadf2511a4feb879cba573854443423` |
| `transactionPosition` | The transaction position in the block. | `70` |
| `type` | Type of operation code (OPCODE). | `create` |
### `SUICIDE`
* `SUICIDE` is captured when a smart contract is destroyed. That is when the [selfdestruct](https://solidity-by-example.org/hacks/self-destruct/) function of Solidity is used.
* `SUICIDE` transfers the contract's balance to the `address` specified in the `selfdestruct` function clearing onchain memory.
* The cleared memory is processed as a refund of the total gas cost to complete the transaction.
#### Example response
```json json
{
"action": {
"address": "0x87051f6ba0562fdb0485763562bf34cb2ad705b1",
"refundAddress": "0x000000000000000000000000000000000000dead",
"balance": "0x0"
},
"blockHash": "0x6d00f7707938cca36b0730d8f7f090543242002b6fa0fe94bf85b9ab02e6bed6",
"blockNumber": 4000036,
"result": null,
"subtraces": 0,
"traceAddress": [
1,
2,
2
],
"transactionHash": "0xbc15addb97490a168dc1d099ab8537caf2e4ff7d1deeff6d685d2d594a750037",
"transactionPosition": 45,
"type": "suicide"
},
```
**SUICIDE parameter definitions**
| Parameter | Description | Example |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `address` | The address of contract to destroy. | `0x87051f6ba0562fdb0485763562bf34cb2ad705b1` |
| `refundAddress` | Address to send remainder of contract `balance`. | `0x000000000000000000000000000000000000dead` |
| `blockHash` | Block hash ID of the transaction. | `0x6d00f7707938cca36b0730d8f7f090543242002b6fa0fe94bf85b9ab02e6bed6` |
| `blockNumber` | Transaction block number. | `4000036` |
| `result` | Used for `SELFDESTRUCT` calls. | `null` |
| `subtraces` | Total number of transaction child traces. | `0` |
| `traceAddress` | Index of the trace & the order of subcalls. | `1` and `2` |
| `transactionHash` | Hash ID of the transaction. | `0xbc15addb97490a168dc1d099ab8537caf2e4ff7d1deeff6d685d2d594a750037` |
| `transactionPosition` | The position of the transaction in the block. | `45` |
| `type` | Type of operation code (OPCODE). | `suicide` |
### `CALL`
* `CALL` is used for transferring ETH between [externally owned accounts](/docs/web3-glossary#externally-owned-account) (EOAs).
* Also used to `CALL` a smart contract function.
#### Example response
```json json
{
"action": {
"from": "0xbc9f06dd67578b0b8b4d87fda9acde453bc4c067",
"callType": "call",
"gas": "0x97478",
"input": "0xfebefd610000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040cc849afc28894f79411f12309e75c71ded27d1666b75a2423633c204e671cb1e00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000036eaec0ff7c4899bec2db1479d7d195d614ca26819a301523d82daaaaf436122d2ceb36dfa12b359202b4dfd756478988f5023bf7297afa81f563d4b6242e36e707671a8bf38ee483a37feca948997dcfba17b3372e166ba5c824629beeed6b5c",
"to": "0x6090a6e47849629b7245dfa1ca21d94cd15878ef",
"value": "0x2386f26fc10000"
},
"blockHash": "0x6d00f7707938cca36b0730d8f7f090543242002b6fa0fe94bf85b9ab02e6bed6",
"blockNumber": 4000036,
"result": {
"gasUsed": "0x7ad71",
"output": "0x"
},
"subtraces": 4,
"traceAddress": [],
"transactionHash": "0x552b31a3a9c92577d65db62cf9f729e81571e10cad90e356423adcfa2caebacc",
"transactionPosition": 71,
"type": "call"
}
```
**`CALL` parameter definitions**
| Parameter | Description | Example | |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| `from` | Address of the sender. | `0xbc9f06dd67578b0b8b4d87fda9acde453bc4c067` | |
| `callType` | The type of `CALL`. | `call`,`delegatecall`,`callcode` or `staticcall` | |
| `gas` | The gas included in the transaction. | `0x97478` | |
| `input` | Specific call function on the contract. | | `0xfebefd61000000000000000000000000000000000000000...` |
| `to` | Address of the receiver. | `0x6090a6e47849629b7245dfa1ca21d94cd15878ef` | |
| `value` | Transferred value amount. | `0x2386f26fc10000` | |
| `blockHash` | Transaction block hash ID. | `0x6d00f7707938cca36b0730d8f7f090543242002b6fa0fe94bf85b9ab02e6bed6` | |
| `blockNumber` | Transaction block number. | `4000036` | |
| `gasUsed` | gas used to execute the transaction. | `0x7ad71` | |
| `output` | The result of the smart contract function call. | `0x` | |
| `subtraces` | Total number of transaction child traces. | `4` | |
| `traceAddress` | Index of a trace & the order of subcalls. | `[]` | |
| `transactionHash` | Hash ID of the transaction. | `0x552b31a3a9c92577d65db62cf9f729e81571e10cad90e356423adcfa2caebacc` | |
| `transactionPosition` | The position of the transaction in the block. | `71` | |
| `type` | Type of operation code (OPCODE). | `call` | |
## How to read a `traceAddress`
Traces are structured in a tree format. The `traceAddress` field represents the position of the trace in the tree. Below is a diagram of the `traceAddress` set of tree results:
## Related resources
* [What are EVM Traces?](/docs/reference/what-are-evm-traces)
* [Trace API vs. Debug API](/docs/reference/trace-api-vs-debug-api)
* [trace\_call vs debug\_traceCall](/docs/reference/trace_call-vs-debug_tracecall)