Blockchain explorer

What is Blockchain explorer?

A blockchain explorer is an online tool that allows users to navigate, search, and monitor activity on a blockchain network in real time. It provides a transparent interface for accessing detailed data about blocks, transactions, wallet addresses, and network metrics. Through a blockchain explorer, anyone can view the most recent blocks that have been mined, examine the contents of each block, and track the progress of specific transactions by entering a transaction ID or wallet address.

If a user sends Bitcoin to another wallet, they can enter the transaction hash into a blockchain explorer like Etherscan for Ethereum and Blockchain.com for Bitcoin to confirm whether the transaction has been broadcast, included in a block, and how many confirmations it has received. This helps verify the successful delivery of funds and ensures transparency.

Blockchain explorers also show historical data, such as when a specific address received or sent funds, total balances, and fee rates used. Additionally, they offer insight into technical aspects like mining difficulty, mempool size, and network hash rate, making them valuable for researchers and developers.

Overall, blockchain explorers play a key role in maintaining the open and verifiable nature of blockchain systems. They empower users to independently verify data and observe blockchain behavior, supporting trust and decentralization in digital finance environments.