web3.js
Collection of comprehensive TypeScript libraries for Interaction with the Ethereum JSON RPC API and utility functions.
Top Related Projects
A python interface for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain and ecosystem.
Complete Ethereum library and wallet implementation in JavaScript.
Collection of comprehensive TypeScript libraries for Interaction with the Ethereum JSON RPC API and utility functions.
:warning: The Truffle Suite is being sunset. For information on ongoing support, migration options and FAQs, visit the Consensys blog. Thank you for all the support over the years.
OpenZeppelin Contracts is a library for secure smart contract development.
Quick Overview
Web3.js is a collection of libraries that allow developers to interact with local or remote Ethereum nodes using HTTP, IPC, or WebSocket. It provides a convenient interface for working with the Ethereum blockchain, smart contracts, and decentralized applications (dApps) in JavaScript and TypeScript.
Pros
- Comprehensive functionality for Ethereum blockchain interactions
- Well-documented and widely adopted in the Ethereum ecosystem
- Supports both browser and Node.js environments
- Actively maintained with regular updates and improvements
Cons
- Large bundle size, which can impact performance in browser-based applications
- Learning curve for developers new to blockchain technology
- Some users report occasional inconsistencies in behavior across different Ethereum networks
- Dependency on a running Ethereum node, which can be resource-intensive
Code Examples
- Connecting to an Ethereum network:
import Web3 from 'web3';
const web3 = new Web3('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-PROJECT-ID');
console.log('Connected:', await web3.eth.net.isListening());
- Getting an account balance:
const address = '0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc454e4438f44e';
const balance = await web3.eth.getBalance(address);
console.log('Balance:', web3.utils.fromWei(balance, 'ether'), 'ETH');
- Interacting with a smart contract:
const contractABI = [...]; // Contract ABI
const contractAddress = '0x...'; // Contract address
const contract = new web3.eth.Contract(contractABI, contractAddress);
const result = await contract.methods.someFunction().call();
console.log('Function result:', result);
Getting Started
- Install web3.js using npm:
npm install web3
- Import and initialize Web3 in your JavaScript/TypeScript file:
import Web3 from 'web3';
// Connect to an Ethereum node (e.g., local node, Infura, or other providers)
const web3 = new Web3('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-PROJECT-ID');
// Check connection
web3.eth.net.isListening()
.then(() => console.log('Connected to Ethereum network'))
.catch(err => console.error('Connection error:', err));
// Now you can use web3 to interact with the Ethereum blockchain
Competitor Comparisons
A python interface for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain and ecosystem.
Pros of web3.py
- Better integration with Python's async/await syntax for improved concurrency
- More Pythonic API design, adhering to Python conventions and best practices
- Comprehensive documentation with detailed examples and tutorials
Cons of web3.py
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to web3.js
- Fewer third-party libraries and tools available
- May have a steeper learning curve for developers coming from JavaScript
Code Comparison
web3.py:
from web3 import Web3
w3 = Web3(Web3.HTTPProvider('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-PROJECT-ID'))
latest_block = w3.eth.get_block('latest')
print(latest_block)
web3.js:
const Web3 = require('web3');
const web3 = new Web3('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-PROJECT-ID');
web3.eth.getBlock('latest').then(console.log);
Both libraries provide similar functionality for interacting with Ethereum networks, but with syntax and conventions specific to their respective languages. web3.py leverages Python's strengths, while web3.js benefits from JavaScript's widespread use in web development and the larger Node.js ecosystem.
Complete Ethereum library and wallet implementation in JavaScript.
Pros of ethers.js
- More lightweight and modular design
- Better TypeScript support and type safety
- Improved security features, such as built-in ENS support
Cons of ethers.js
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Web3.js
- Less extensive documentation and tutorials available
- Steeper learning curve for developers familiar with Web3.js
Code Comparison
ethers.js:
const provider = new ethers.providers.JsonRpcProvider();
const signer = provider.getSigner();
const contract = new ethers.Contract(address, abi, signer);
const result = await contract.someFunction();
Web3.js:
const web3 = new Web3(Web3.givenProvider);
const contract = new web3.eth.Contract(abi, address);
const accounts = await web3.eth.getAccounts();
const result = await contract.methods.someFunction().send({from: accounts[0]});
Both libraries provide similar functionality for interacting with Ethereum networks, but ethers.js offers a more modern and streamlined approach. Web3.js has been the go-to library for many developers due to its long-standing presence in the ecosystem, while ethers.js has gained popularity for its improved design and security features. The choice between the two often depends on project requirements and developer preferences.
Collection of comprehensive TypeScript libraries for Interaction with the Ethereum JSON RPC API and utility functions.
Pros of web3.js
- Widely adopted and well-established library in the Ethereum ecosystem
- Extensive documentation and community support
- Comprehensive set of features for interacting with Ethereum networks
Cons of web3.js
- Larger bundle size compared to some alternatives
- Can be complex for beginners due to its extensive feature set
- Slower development cycle and less frequent updates
Code Comparison
Both repositories refer to the same project, web3.js. Here's a sample code snippet using web3.js:
const Web3 = require('web3');
const web3 = new Web3('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-PROJECT-ID');
web3.eth.getBalance('0x1234567890123456789012345678901234567890')
.then(console.log);
This code initializes a Web3 instance, connects to the Ethereum mainnet via Infura, and retrieves the balance of a specified address.
Additional Notes
Since both repositories mentioned in the prompt (web3/web3.js and web3/web3.js) are identical, there isn't a direct comparison to be made. The web3.js library is a popular choice for developers working with Ethereum and other blockchain platforms that support the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
:warning: The Truffle Suite is being sunset. For information on ongoing support, migration options and FAQs, visit the Consensys blog. Thank you for all the support over the years.
Pros of Truffle
- Comprehensive development environment with built-in testing framework and asset pipeline
- Simplified contract deployment and migration management
- Network management for deploying to multiple environments
Cons of Truffle
- Steeper learning curve due to its full-featured nature
- Less flexibility for custom build processes or non-standard project structures
- Potentially slower adoption of new Ethereum features compared to Web3.js
Code Comparison
Web3.js:
const Web3 = require('web3');
const web3 = new Web3('http://localhost:8545');
const contract = new web3.eth.Contract(abi, address);
const result = await contract.methods.myMethod().call();
Truffle:
const MyContract = artifacts.require("MyContract");
module.exports = async function(deployer) {
await deployer.deploy(MyContract);
const instance = await MyContract.deployed();
const result = await instance.myMethod();
};
Both Web3.js and Truffle are popular tools in the Ethereum development ecosystem. Web3.js is a lightweight library for interacting with Ethereum nodes, while Truffle provides a more comprehensive development environment. Web3.js offers more flexibility and is often used in conjunction with other tools, whereas Truffle aims to be an all-in-one solution for Ethereum development, testing, and deployment. The choice between them depends on project requirements and developer preferences.
OpenZeppelin Contracts is a library for secure smart contract development.
Pros of openzeppelin-contracts
- Provides a comprehensive library of secure, audited smart contract components
- Offers standardized implementations of common contract patterns (e.g., ERC20, ERC721)
- Regularly updated with the latest security best practices and Solidity improvements
Cons of openzeppelin-contracts
- Focused solely on smart contract development, lacking JavaScript integration
- May require additional tools or libraries for full dApp development
- Learning curve for understanding and correctly implementing contract components
Code Comparison
openzeppelin-contracts (ERC20 token implementation):
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC20/ERC20.sol";
contract MyToken is ERC20 {
constructor(uint256 initialSupply) ERC20("MyToken", "MTK") {
_mint(msg.sender, initialSupply);
}
}
web3.js (interacting with an ERC20 token):
const Web3 = require('web3');
const web3 = new Web3('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-PROJECT-ID');
const contract = new web3.eth.Contract(abi, address);
const balance = await contract.methods.balanceOf(account).call();
While openzeppelin-contracts focuses on providing secure smart contract implementations, web3.js is a JavaScript library for interacting with Ethereum nodes. They serve different purposes in the blockchain development ecosystem, with openzeppelin-contracts being more specialized for on-chain contract development and web3.js offering broader blockchain interaction capabilities.
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Web3.js
Web3.js is a TypeScript implementation of the Ethereum JSON RPC API and related tooling maintained by ChainSafe Systems.
Installation
You can install the package either using NPM or using Yarn
If you wanna checkout latest bugfix or feature, use
npm install web3@dev
Using NPM
npm install web3
Using Yarn
yarn add web3
Getting Started
- :writing_hand: If you have questions submit an issue or join us on Discord
Prerequisites
Migration Guide
- Migration Guide from Web3.js 1.x to 4.x Breaking changes are listed in migration guide and its first step for migrating from Web3.js 1.x to 4.x. If there is any question or discussion feel free to ask in Discord, and in case of any bug or new feature request open issue or create a pull request for contributions.
Useful links
Architecture Overview
Package | Version | License | Docs | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
web3 | :rotating_light: Entire Web3.js offering (includes all packages) | |||
web3-core | Core functions for web3.js packages | |||
web3-errors | Errors Objects | |||
web3-eth | Modules to interact with the Ethereum blockchain and smart contracts | |||
web3-eth-abi | Functions for encoding and decoding EVM in/output | |||
web3-eth-accounts | Functions for managing Ethereum accounts and signing | |||
web3-eth-contract | The contract package contained in web3-eth | |||
web3-eth-ens | Functions for interacting with the Ethereum Name Service | |||
web3-eth-iban | Functionality for converting Ethereum addressed to IBAN addressed and vice versa | |||
web3-eth-personal | Module to interact with the Ethereum blockchain accounts stored in the node | |||
web3-net | Functions to interact with an Ethereum node's network properties | |||
web3-providers-http | Web3.js provider for the HTTP protocol | |||
web3-providers-ipc | Web3.js provider for IPC | |||
web3-providers-ws | Web3.js provider for the Websocket protocol | |||
web3-rpc-methods | RPC Methods | |||
web3-types | Shared useable types | |||
web3-utils | Useful utility functions for Dapp developers | |||
web3-validator | Utilities for validating objects |
Package.json Scripts
Script | Description |
---|---|
clean | Uses rimraf to remove dist/ |
build | Uses tsc to build all packages |
lint | Uses eslint to lint all packages |
lint:fix | Uses eslint to check and fix any warnings |
format | Uses prettier to format the code |
test | Uses jest to run unit tests in each package |
test:integration | Uses jest to run tests under /test/integration in each package |
test:unit | Uses jest to run tests under /test/unit in each package |
test:manual:long-connection-ws | Runs manual tests for keeping a long WebSocket connection |
test:manual | Runs manual tests under test/manual in the web3 package |
Top Related Projects
A python interface for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain and ecosystem.
Complete Ethereum library and wallet implementation in JavaScript.
Collection of comprehensive TypeScript libraries for Interaction with the Ethereum JSON RPC API and utility functions.
:warning: The Truffle Suite is being sunset. For information on ongoing support, migration options and FAQs, visit the Consensys blog. Thank you for all the support over the years.
OpenZeppelin Contracts is a library for secure smart contract development.
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot