How to Get the Latest Block on Ethereum

This tutorial uses the getBlockNumber endpoint.

This guide assumes you’ve gone through the getting started steps and have an Alchemy account!

1. From your command line, create a new project directory and `cd` into it:

shell

$ mkdir web3-example
> cd web3-example

2. Install the Alchemy SDK if you have not already

You can use any web3 library of your choosing, however there are tons of benefits to using the Alchemy SDK.

$ npm install alchemy-sdk

3. Create a file named `index.js` and add the following contents:

index.js

1 // Setup: npm install @alch/alchemy-sdk
2 const { Network, Alchemy } = require("alchemy-sdk");
3 
4 // Optional Config object, but defaults to demo api-key and eth-mainnet.
5 const settings = {
6   apiKey: "demo", // Replace with your Alchemy API Key.
7   network: Network.ETH_MAINNET, // Replace with your network.
8 };
9 
10 const alchemy = new Alchemy(settings);
11 
12 async function main() {
13   const latestBlock = await alchemy.core.getBlockNumber();
14   console.log("The latest block number is", latestBlock);
15 }
16 
17 main();

You should ultimately replace demo with your Alchemy HTTP API key.

Unfamiliar with the async stuff? Check out this Medium post.

4. Run it using node

shell

$ node index.js

You should now see the latest block number output in your console!

shell

$ The latest block number is 11043912

Woo! Congrats! You just wrote your first web3 script using Alchemy 🎉

Once you complete this tutorial, let us know how your experience was or if you have any feedback by tagging us on Twitter @Alchemy!

Not sure what to do next? Build upon your skills learned in this tutorial by checking out our beginner’s tutorial for sending Ethereum transactions using Web3 and Alchemy.