Scroll Chain API Quickstart

To use the Scroll Chain API you’ll need to create a free Alchemy account first!

Introduction

Scroll Chain is an EVM-compatible blockchain designed to provide scalability and efficiency for decentralized applications (dApps). Known for its high throughput and low transaction costs, Scroll Chain offers a robust environment for deploying Ethereum-based applications.

What is the Scroll Chain API?

The Scroll Chain API facilitates interaction with the Scroll network through a collection of JSON-RPC methods. Given its compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem, developers familiar with Ethereum’s JSON-RPC APIs will find working with Scroll Chain both intuitive and straightforward.

Getting Started Instructions

1. Choose a Package Manager (npm or yarn)

Your first step involves selecting a package manager, which will be crucial for managing your project’s dependencies. The choice between npm and yarn depends on your personal preference or project requirements.

2. Set Up Your Project

To kickstart your project, open your terminal and execute the following commands:

mkdir scroll-api-quickstart
cd scroll-api-quickstart
npm init --yes

This creates a new directory named scroll-api-quickstart and initializes a Node.js project within it.

3. Make Your First Request

For making API requests, we’ll use Axios, a widely-used HTTP client. Install Axios with the following command:

$
npm install axios
>
# Or with yarn
>
# yarn add axios

Next, create an index.js file in your project directory. Paste the following code to send a request to the Scroll network:

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const axios = require('axios');
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const url = `https://scroll-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/${yourAPIKey}`;
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const payload = {
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  jsonrpc: '2.0',
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  id: 1,
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  method: 'eth_blockNumber',
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  params: []
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};
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axios.post(url, payload)
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  .then(response => {
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    console.log('Block Number:', response.data.result);
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  })
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  .catch(error => {
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    console.error(error);
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  });

Remember to replace yourAPIKey with your actual Alchemy API key that you can get from your Alchemy dashboard.

4. Run Your Script

To execute your script and make a request to the Scroll Chain, run:

$
node index.js

You should see the current block number on Scroll Chain (in hexadecimal format) outputted to your console:

$
Block Number: 0x6d68e

Next Steps

Well done! You’ve just made your first request to the Scroll Chain API. With this foundation, you can dive deeper into the array of JSON-RPC methods available on Scroll Chain and start building your dApps on it!