How to quickly build dapps is perhaps the most difficult hurdle traditional programmers face when transitioning from Web2 to Web3 development. Unfortunately, substandard tools often prevent aspiring and experienced devs alike from building dapps on blockchains such as Ethereum. Thus, to simplify and make Ethereum development more accessible, Moralis created an Ethereum dapp API. As a result, both beginners and expert developers can easily build Ethereum dapps! However, what exactly is an Ethereum dapp API? Also, how can Moralis’ API for Ethereum dapp programming aid the development process? Read on to find out!
Moralis is the premier operating system for Web3 development. As users, developers have the ability to develop dapps (decentralized applications) more efficiently. The power of Moralis partly comes from providing a powerful web3 backend infrastructure that users can access. Also, it supplies devs with an extensive toolkit, featuring some of the industry’s best development tools. Among them, you’ll find Moralis Speedy Nodes, Moralis’ Price API, Metaverse SDK, native support for IPFS, and much more!
The infrastructure of the platform and its tools enable a more seamless Web3 developer experience – allowing you to create more sophisticated dapps. For example, you can learn how to create a Web3 Spotify clone or even create your own metaverse! In addition, you can learn more about what it takes to get into Web3 by checking out the best languages for blockchain development or Web3 frontend development.
With all the advantages of working with Moralis, signing up fo free is a no-brainer. What’s more, you can create your account entirely for free, and it only takes a couple of seconds to get going!
What is an Ethereum Dapp API? – The Ethereum Blockchain
As of now, Ethereum is one of many blockchains. However, Ethereum holds a special place in many developers’ hearts, as it was the first programmable chain to utilize smart contracts. This “first-mover advantage” attracted a lot of developers interested in the concept of decentralization. With the launch of Ethereum, the network quickly grew to become the dominant blockchain for Web3 development. As such, the network now includes thousands of ERC-20 tokens, DeFi projects, dapps, NFTs, etc., covering a wide variety of sectors within the industry.
Ethereum uses a programming language called “Solidity“, which is used to create smart contracts. Solidity is known as the first contract-oriented language, and it has influences from both JavaScript and C++. As such, if you’d like to get into Ethereum development, it’s beneficial to have some prior experience working with either of these languages. What’s more, with Solidity, you’re building EVM-compatible smart contracts, which many other chains also support. This suggests that learning Solidity won’t limit you to the Ethereum network.
The native token of the Ethereum network is ether (ETH), one of the largest cryptocurrencies on the market. For example, ETH is used to pay Ethereum gas fees that are needed to make transactions on the network. Unfortunately, these fees have skyrocketed with increased adoption, making it more costly to develop Ethereum dapps. Thus, if you’re looking to create Ethereum dapps, you should keep a close eye on the gas costs.
This congestion issue that drives up the gas costs partly originates from the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism that Ethereum utilizes. However, as Ethereum gradually implements specific upgrades, such as “The Merge” (Ethereum 2.0), the network is looking to change to proof-of-stake (PoS) instead. As a result, it should alleviate the astronomical gas costs and make Ethereum development more affordable.
What is an Ethereum Dapp API?
Before we take a closer look at what an Ethereum dapp API is, we need to dive deeper into the concept of APIs. API is short for “application programming interface”, and an API facilitates the communication between software by translating instructions for mutual understanding. As such, they’re responsible for enabling reliable programming in a safe and controlled development environment through the reliable and consistent supply of functions on request.
The ecosystem of the internet is dependent on APIs, and you’re continuously in contact with these interfaces when using any of your devices. When utilizing a dapp or app on your phone or computer, the device connects to the internet and transfers information to a server or database. The receiving end then needs to interpret the data, perform some actions, and send back a response to your device. Your device continues by analyzing the information and presenting it in a readable way. This entire process is generally facilitated by an API, ensuring that the two pieces of software can communicate successfully.
So, in the context of Ethereum and the decentralized web, an API basically ensures the aforementioned functionalities for Ethereum development. As a developer, you can utilize an Ethereum dapp API to use already prepared code snippets, making Ethereum development significantly more accessible.
There are additional APIs that you can take a closer look at. One example is Moralis’ NFT API, which makes NFT development more manageable. Moreover, with the cross-chain compatible nature of the NFT API, you can easily create NFTs for several networks. For example, check out the Ethereum NFT API to discover more about what enables you to create an Ethereum NFT easily with Moralis!
Why Develop Ethereum Dapps with Moralis?
Even with the congestion issues that the Ethereum network faces, it’s still the most dominant blockchain for Web3 development. As such, one of the most prominent reasons for developing Web3 applications on the Ethereum network is the extensive community of developers. Also, the network has been around for quite some time now, allowing developers to create tools that make Web3 development easier. One significant example is the Truffle Suite ecosystem consisting of Truffle, Ganache, and Drizzle. Tools such as these make Ethereum development attractive to developers – especially in conjunction with a powerful Web3 development platform.
This is where Moralis enters the picture, as the platform allows you as a developer to create dapps more efficiently. For one, Moralis allows you to avoid the limitations of RPC nodes, meaning you can launch dapps quicker and more easily. What’s more, Moralis supports cross-chain compatibility. As such, you can create dapps that are fit for more than one network. In turn, you essentially future-proof your dapps!
Among the supported networks, you’ll find Polygon, Cronos, Avalanche, BNB Chain (BSC), Fantom, and Ethereum. Moreover, Moralis is continuously evolving and adding new networks as they emerge. As such, once a new chain is added, you can easily port over dapps to other chains with a few simple clicks. So, when working with Moralis, you won’t limit yourself to one chain and, as a result, can cater to a larger audience.
What is Moralis’ Ethereum Dapp API?
Along with the backend infrastructure of the platform, Moralis supplies a set of development tools – one of which is Moralis’ Web3 API. Moreover, the Web3 API is also cross-chain compatible, meaning that the interface is applicable in development endeavors for several different networks, one being Ethereum.
The Web3 API’s Ethereum support makes it a perfectly viable “Ethereum dapp API”. This means it’s possible to use the Ethereum dapp API when developing all sorts of projects for the Ethereum ecosystem. As such, it doesn’t matter if you’re looking to create an NFT marketplace, DeFi project, a Web3 wallet, etc., the API will aid in all development endeavors.
Most Web3 projects, like those we just mentioned, generally require common functionalities. Some examples are user authentication, sending transactions/tokens, fetching on-chain data, etc. As these are common features of dapps, it makes no sense to reinvent them in all development processes. Instead, it’s possible to utilize the Ethereum dapp API to implement these types of features by copying and pasting snippets of code that are ready to use out of the box.
In the following section, we’ll take a closer look at how the Moralis Ethereum dapp API works in practice. We’ll provide three examples, including how to authenticate with MetaMask, get transaction/token data, and send Ethereum assets. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at how to authenticate users and why this is useful!
Ethereum Dapp API – Authenticating Users
One essential feature that most dapps require is the ability to authenticate users. Once users authenticate, it’s possible to access information regarding their cryptocurrency wallets, which can be useful in many instances. However, even as an essential feature, it can be relatively cumbersome without the proper tools to make this happen. This is where Moralis’ Ethereum dapp API enters the picture, allowing you to authenticate users with MetaMask with only two lines of code:
Moralis.authenticate().then(function (user) {
console.log(user.get(''))
})
This is all it takes when working with the Ethereum dapp API, allowing users to log in with their Web3 wallets. The default alternative of Moralis is MetaMask; however, this is only one of many options. For example, you can specify in the code above that WalletConnect should be used instead. If you’d like to learn more about this, please read our “How to Connect Users with WalletConnect” article.
So, what exactly happens when a user authenticates? When you create a project with Moralis, you can set up a server with a few clicks. With a server at hand, it will additionally provide you with access to your very own database. Once the users of your dapp authenticate, it will autonomously populate your dapp’s database, and you gain access to all sorts of on-chain information. This information is continuously updated, ensuring you have access to the most relevant data regarding your users and the state of supported blockchains.
In the following sections, we’ll show you how easy it’s to access this information when working with Moralis. So, let’s look at how to acquire transaction and token data!
Acquiring User Token and Transaction Data
Once your database is populated, it’s helpful to gain access to this information through your code. Manually setting this up can be quite the hassle; however, with the Ethereum dapp API, you can, among other things, access token/transaction data with only single lines of code. Take token data; with Moralis, you can access both native and ERC-20 token data with ease:
- Native Token Balance:
- const balance = await Moralis.Web3API.account.getNativeBalance();
- const balance = await Moralis.Web3API.account.getNativeBalance();
- Token Balance:
- const balances = await Moralis.Web3API.account.getTokenBalances();
Moreover, you can also access transaction history data for all your users. This is as simple as acquiring token information; all that’s necessary is a single code snippet:
const transaction = await Moralis.Web3API.account.getTransaction();
Sending Ethereum Assets
Acquiring on-chain data is only one part of creating dapps; it’s also, in many cases, essential to allow users to send Ethereum assets through your dapp’s UI. Moreover, it can additionally be useful to enable your dapp to make transactions on behalf of the users. Like querying on-chain data, this would be a cumbersome process if you had to set it up yourself manually. However, with Moralis’ Ethereum dapp API, you can send all sorts of assets with only a few lines of code. This is what it can look like:
Sending Native Tokens:
const options = {
type: "native",
amount: Moralis.Units.ETH("0.5"),
receiver: "0x..",
};
let result = await Moralis.transfer(options);
Sending ERC-20 Tokens:
// sending 0.5 tokens with 18 decimals
const options = {
type: "erc20",
amount: Moralis.Units.Token("0.5", "18"),
receiver: "0x..",
contractAddress: "0x..",
};
let result = await Moralis.transfer(options);
Transferring NFTs:
// sending a token with token id = 1
const options = {
type: "erc721",
receiver: "0x..",
contractAddress: "0xc02aaa39b223fe8d0a0e5c4f27ead9083c756cc2",
tokenId: 1,
};
let transaction = await Moralis.transfer(options);
Now that’s it for this tutorial on what an Ethereum dapp API is and why you need an API. However, for more information regarding the Ethereum dapp API, please check out Moralis’ official Web3 API documentation.
We also highly recommend you take a closer look at our guide on how to create an Ethereum dapp. This will provide you with a quick tutorial on how you can launch your own dapp and practical experience of how the Ethereum dapp API works. As such, this will hopefully illustrate the power of working with Moralis even further!
What is an Ethereum Dapp API? – Summary
With the increased attention towards Ethereum development, developers require an Ethereum dapp API. APIs provide a more seamless developer experience, and these interfaces allow for more efficient Web3 development. This is where Moralis takes the stage by providing a cross-chain compatible Web3 API with support for the Ethereum network. This API from Moralis acts as a perfect Ethereum dapp API, allowing developers to create dapps easily and more efficiently.
With this Ethereum dapp API, you have the option to use already developed snippets of code. This allows for the possibility to, for example, access on-chain data, send ERC-20 tokens, and authenticate users with only a few lines of code. Further, Moralis allows developers to create dapps at a higher efficiency, providing a tremendous competitive advantage.
What’s more, the Moralis Ethereum dapp API is only one of many development tools allowing for a more seamless developer experience. You might also be interested in Moralis’ web3uikit, letting you easily create aesthetically pleasing user interfaces (UIs). For more information, you can check out our tutorial on how to create a great dapp UI!
So, if you’re looking to create dapps, you should definitely consider Moralis! You can sign up with Moralis entirely for free and become a blockchain developer!
