Optimism (OP) API - Building Your Web3 Dapps

What is Optimism (OP) API?

Optimism API serves as a gateway enabling developers to engage with the Layer-2 OP Mainnet through programmatic interactions.

This empowers developers to retrieve and transmit data on the blockchain and launch applications with the ability to both access and modify information within the OP network.

Fundamentally, this interaction relies on RPC (Remote Procedure Call) nodes, which operate in
the background to manage the various operations within the blockchain infrastructure.

In practical terms, developers can leverage the API to send requests to RPC nodes over standard HTTP protocols, requesting information from the blockchain or submitting transactions.

Moreover, the Optimism API offers the added advantage of remote access to interact with RPC nodes. This eliminates the need for developers to set up and manage nodes locally, further simplifying the development process and reducing resource requirements.

With its focus on scalability and low transaction costs, the OP chain provides a solution to the challenges of scalability and high fees often associated with blockchain networks.

As one of the leading infrastructure providers in the ecosystem, GetBlock facilitates developers' access to API by providing reliable and scalable infrastructure solutions, empowering developers to leverage the full potential of the OP network in their applications.

Why use Optimism (OP) API?

The primary benefit of using OP API is that it empowers developers to quickly start building on the Optimism blockchain without having to invest time and resources into node infrastructure management.

Using APIs provided by infrastructure services offers several additional advantages:

1. Consistently reliable service: Node providers have strong and resilient infrastructure in place, supported by a team with expertise in managing it effectively;
2. Dedicated support: Ensures that any technical challenges encountered can be resolved promptly and effectively, leading to smoother operations and improved user experience;
3. Variety of pricing and network selection: Users have the flexibility to select from a range of networks and pricing options that suit their specific use cases and budgets;

Ultimately, by using provider API, developers can focus more on innovation and less on infrastructure management, leading to faster deployment and improved efficiency in building dApps on the OP blockchain.

Key Features of Optimism API

APIs providing access by RPC nodes offer a set of features essential for building blockchain applications. These functionalities address diverse requirements and can be grouped into four main categories as detailed in the table below.

Overall, these features empower developers to create advanced applications that leverage the full capabilities of the blockchain network.

How to Get Started with Optimism (OP) API

This step-by-step tutorial will guide new users to start using the GetBlock platform.

Step 1: Account Setup

To begin, visit the website and find the “Dashboard” button in the upper right corner. Sign up for a free account on GetBlock.io either by connecting your MetaMask wallet or registering with an email or Google account.

Users can start exploring the functionality of Optimism APIs by utilizing 40,000 free daily credits.

Step 2: Generate API endpoints

Scroll down to the "My Endpoints" section on the dashboard and choose the Optimism network from the dropdown list. Select mainnet, the preferred API protocol, and click on “Get”.

Once generated, the endpoint URLs will appear on the “My endpoints” list formatted as:

https://go.getblock.io/

Step 3: Integrate API

Once the RPC endpoint is generated, it’s ready to start interacting with the blockchain. For example, let’s use the ethers library and create a JsonRpcProvider instance with the GetBlock’s API.

Here’s the code snippet that fetches transaction details from the OP mainnet using the getTransactionReceipt method:

const { ethers } = require('ethers');
const provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider('https://go.getblock.io/');

(async () => {
    console.log(await provider.getTransactionReceipt('0x1090b2365987f361568a26215a2a42d379dc62f351f93452a93d7ceb422af474'));
})();

Executing this code retrieves the transaction receipt with all the details:

Available Optimism API Methods

Here are some examples of methods widely used by Optimism developers and supported by GetBlock nodes:

• eth_getLogs: Retrieves logs from smart contracts based on specified filter criteria;
• eth_estimateGas: Estimates the amount of gas required for a transaction to be processed;
• eth_getCode: Returns the bytecode of a deployed smart contract;
• eth_sendRawTransaction: Broadcasts signed transactions directly to the network;
• rollup_gasPrices: provides information about gas prices on the OP network.

Additional API methods are listed and described in the documentation section of the GetBlock website.

Pricing and Plans for Optimism (OP) API

GetBlock clients can select the plan that best aligns with their needs, budget, and growth trajectory.

Shared nodes allow several individuals or entities to access and interact with the blockchain network using the same node infrastructure. With this plan, users can access the service at no cost, but with a limitation on the number of requests.

For increased request volumes and rates, users have the option to purchase additional request packages or opt for unlimited requests by subscribing to a monthly plan.

Flexible pricing

Dedicated OP API

Unlike shared nodes, dedicated nodes do not impose any limitations on the usage rates.
Users choose this plan when building applications that need to scale to accommodate a large number of users.

DEDICATED NODE

Private server with custom settings

Requests

Unlimited

Rate Limit

Unlimited

Data

Archive

Starting at

$

600

/ month

Start building

This tariff provides a range of features designed to support scaling, including the highest availability and a tailored setup allowing developers to customize node configurations according to their specific needs and preferences.

Enterprise OP solutions

Enterprise solutions offered by GetBlock are designed to cater to the needs of large-scale applications, complementing Optimism's mission to enhance Ethereum's scalability and usability.

This plan provides clients with advanced tools for efficient infrastructure management, along with dedicated support for prompt issue resolution. Additionally, clients have the flexibility to deploy custom protocol nodes to meet specific business requirements.