# Solana API FAQ

> Frequently asked questions about the Solana API

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/docs/llms.txt).

## What is Solana?

Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to support the scale, open participation, and performance required to power the next generation of decentralized applications. It is built on a new consensus algorithm called Proof of History (PoH) which allows it to process up to 50,000 transactions per second. Solana also features a unique architecture that allows for low-latency transactions, low transaction fees, and a high degree of decentralization.

## What is the Solana API?

The Solana API lets you connect to a Solana node that is part of the Solana blockchain. You can interact with onchain data, send transactions, and deploy contracts using Alchemy's API endpoints. The API follows a JSON-RPC standard, a lightweight, remote procedure call (RPC) protocol commonly used when interacting with blockchain data.

## How can I get started using the Solana API?

Explained in the [Solana API Quickstart Guide](/docs/reference/solana-api-quickstart).

## What methods does Alchemy support for the Solana API?

You can find the list of all the methods Alchemy supports for the Solana API on the [Solana API Endpoints](/docs/chains#solana-apis) page.

## Can I see the Solana methods by category?

Yes! Check out the section below:

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="Current State Methods" icon="clock" href="#current-state-methods">
    Query live blockchain data and network status
  </Card>

  <Card title="Historical Data (Archival)" icon="box-archive" href="#historical-data-archival">
    Access complete transaction and block history
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transaction Submission" icon="paper-plane" href="#transaction-submission">
    Send and simulate transactions with fee estimation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Network & Cluster Info" icon="network-wired" href="#network-performance-economics">
    Monitor validators, epochs and network performance
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Current State Methods

Query live blockchain data including accounts, balances, current slots, and real-time network status.

### Account & Balance Queries

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getAccountInfo" icon="info" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-account-info">
    Returns all information associated with the account of provided Pubkey.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getBalance" icon="money-bill" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-balance">
    Returns the lamport balance of the account of the provided Pubkey.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getMultipleAccounts" icon="group-arrows-rotate" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-multiple-accounts">
    Returns the account information for a list of Pubkeys.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getProgramAccounts" icon="network-wired" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-program-accounts">
    Returns all accounts owned by the provided program Pubkey.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getLargestAccounts" icon="list-ol" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-largest-accounts">
    Returns the addresses of the largest accounts, by lamport balance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getSupply" icon="coins" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-supply">
    Returns information about the current supply of SOL.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

### Token Account Methods

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getTokenAccountsByOwner" icon="wallet" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-token-accounts-by-owner">
    Get all token accounts for a wallet.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getTokenAccountsByDelegate" icon="user-shield" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-token-accounts-by-delegate">
    Query token accounts by delegate.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getTokenAccountBalance" icon="scale-balanced" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-token-account-balance">
    Get balance of a specific token account.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getTokenSupply" icon="coins" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-token-supply">
    Query total supply of an SPL token.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getTokenLargestAccounts" icon="list-ol" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-token-largest-accounts">
    Find accounts with largest token holdings.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

### Current Slot & Blockhash

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getSlot" icon="clone" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-slot">
    Get current slot number.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getBlockHeight" icon="layer-group" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-block-height">
    Get current block height of the network.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getLatestBlockhash" icon="hashtag" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-latest-blockhash">
    Get most recent blockhash for transactions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="isBlockhashValid" icon="circle-check" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/is-blockhash-valid">
    Validate if a blockhash is still valid.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getSlotLeader" icon="chess-king" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-slot-leader">
    Get current slot leader.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getSlotLeaders" icon="chess-board" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-slot-leaders">
    Get slot leaders for a range of slots.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

### Transaction Status & Confirmation

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getSignatureStatuses" icon="question-circle" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-signature-statuses">
    Check confirmation status of transactions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getTransactionCount" icon="list-numeric" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-transaction-count">
    Get total number of transactions processed.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Historical Data (Archival)

Access complete transaction and block history from Solana genesis.

### Transaction History

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getTransaction" icon="file-alt" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-transaction">
    Get detailed information about a specific transaction.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getSignaturesForAddress" icon="signature" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-signatures-for-address">
    Get transaction signatures for an account.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getInflationReward" icon="medal" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-inflation-reward">
    Calculate inflation rewards for accounts.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

### Block History

Access blockchain structure, timing, and historical data.

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getBlock" icon="cube" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-block">
    Get complete block information including all transactions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getBlocks" icon="cubes" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-blocks">
    Get list of confirmed blocks in a range.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getBlocksWithLimit" icon="arrow-down-1-9" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-blocks-with-limit">
    Get limited number of confirmed blocks.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getBlockTime" icon="stopwatch" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-block-time">
    Get estimated production time of a block.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getBlockCommitment" icon="check-double" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-block-commitment">
    Get commitment for a particular block.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Transaction Submission

Send and simulate transactions with fee estimation and optimization.

### Transaction Methods

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="sendTransaction" icon="paper-plane" href="/docs/solana/solana-api-overview">
    Send a transaction to the network.
  </Card>

  <Card title="simulateTransaction" icon="flask" href="/docs/solana/solana-api-overview">
    Simulate a transaction to preview effects.
  </Card>

  <Card title="requestAirdrop" icon="faucet-drip" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/request-airdrop">
    Request SOL airdrop on Devnet.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getRecentPrioritizationFees" icon="arrow-trend-up" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-recent-prioritization-fees">
    Get recent priority fees for optimal pricing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getFeeForMessage" icon="coins" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-fee-for-message">
    Calculate transaction fees before sending.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Network & Cluster Methods

Monitor validators, epochs, network performance, and cluster health.

### Cluster Information

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getHealth" icon="heart-pulse" href="/docs/solana/solana-api-overview">
    Check RPC node health status.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getVersion" icon="code-branch" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-version">
    Get Solana software version information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getClusterNodes" icon="network-wired" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-cluster-nodes">
    Get information about cluster validators.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getVoteAccounts" icon="certificate" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-vote-accounts">
    Get current and delinquent vote accounts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getEpochInfo" icon="clock-rotate-left" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-epoch-info">
    Get information about the current epoch.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getEpochSchedule" icon="calendar-days" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-epoch-schedule">
    Get epoch schedule information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getLeaderSchedule" icon="crown" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-leader-schedule">
    Get leader schedule for an epoch.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

### Network Performance & Economics

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getRecentPerformanceSamples" icon="chart-line" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-recent-performance-samples">
    Get recent network performance metrics.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getInflationGovernor" icon="gavel" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-inflation-governor">
    Get current inflation parameters.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getInflationRate" icon="percent" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-inflation-rate">
    Get current inflation rate.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getStakeActivation" icon="handshake-simple" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-stake-activation">
    Get epoch activation information for a stake account.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getBlockProduction" icon="cubes" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-block-production">
    Get block production information for current/previous epochs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Utility & System Methods

Helper methods for system information, validation, and advanced queries.

### Basic Utility Methods

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="getMinimumBalanceForRentExemption" icon="circle-dollar-to-slot" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-minimum-balance-for-rent-exemption">
    Calculate minimum balance for rent exemption.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getGenesisHash" icon="dna" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-genesis-hash">
    Get genesis hash of the cluster.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getIdentity" icon="id-card" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-identity">
    Get identity public key of the RPC node.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getFirstAvailableBlock" icon="door-open" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-first-available-block">
    Get slot of first available block.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getHighestSnapshotSlot" icon="angle-double-up" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-highest-snapshot-slot">
    Get highest slot with a snapshot.
  </Card>

  <Card title="minimumLedgerSlot" icon="layer-group" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/minimum-ledger-slot">
    Get minimum slot that node has ledger information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getMaxRetransmitSlot" icon="arrow-rotate-right" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-max-retransmit-slot">
    Get max slot seen from retransmit stage.
  </Card>

  <Card title="getMaxShredInsertSlot" icon="arrow-up-right-dots" href="/docs/chains/solana/solana-api-endpoints/get-max-shred-insert-slot">
    Get max slot seen from after shred insert.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>