Core Concepts

Learn the basics of how a blockchain explorer works in 5 minutes.

How OpenScan.AI Works

OpenScan.AI indexes every block, transaction, and event from supported chains into a searchable database, then decodes that raw data into something humans can understand.

Key Terms

Block

A batch of transactions confirmed together by the network. Each block has a height (number), timestamp, hash, and a list of transactions.

Transaction

A signed action on the chain — a simple transfer, a contract call, or a contract deployment. Every transaction has a unique hash, a sender, a recipient, a fee, and a status.

Address

An account on the chain, identified by a hex string like 0x.... Addresses can be externally owned accounts (wallets) or smart contracts.

Gas

The fee paid to execute a transaction. Gas price and gas used determine the total transaction fee.

Token

An asset defined by a smart contract:

  • ERC-20 - fungible tokens (currencies, utility tokens)
  • ERC-721 - non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
  • ERC-1155 - multi-token standard

Smart Contract

Code deployed on the chain. Contracts expose methods that transactions can call, and emit events (logs) when they execute.

Verified Contract

A contract whose source code has been published and matched against its deployed bytecode. Verification enables:

  • Human-readable method names instead of raw hex
  • Read and write interaction directly from the explorer
  • Accurate AI-powered transaction decoding

ABI

Application Binary Interface - the JSON description of a contract’s methods and events, used to decode calls and logs.

Basic Workflow

1. Chain Produces Blocks

Validators confirm transactions into blocks.

2. Indexer Ingests Data

The OpenScan.AI indexer reads each block and stores transactions, logs, token transfers, and state changes.

3. Decoder Adds Meaning

Transactions are matched against verified ABIs and decoded; AI generates plain-language insights.

4. You Query

Search from the web UI or call the REST API for structured JSON.

Access Options

Web Explorer (Easiest)

  • Search blocks, transactions, addresses, and tokens
  • AI-decoded transaction summaries
  • No setup required — just open xdcscan.io

REST API (Programmatic)

  • Blockscout-compatible API v2
  • Base URL: https://xdcscan.io/api/v2
  • No API key required to start

Self-Hosted (Full Control)

  • Run your own instance from GitHub
  • Point it at any supported chain
  • Your data, your infrastructure

API Basics

The REST API v2 is Blockscout-compatible. A first call:

Terminal window
curl https://xdcscan.io/api/v2/stats

Returns chain-level statistics — total blocks, transactions, addresses, and more. Interactive documentation for every endpoint is available at xdcscan.io/api-docs.

Multi-Chain Support

OpenScan.AI currently indexes:

  • XDC Network - live in production at xdcscan.io
  • EVS
  • Wanchain
  • Velas

Learn More

Want to understand the explorer in depth?

→ Detailed Core Concepts - Deep dive into blocks, transactions, tokens, contract verification, and more.

Next Steps

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