Connecting to the Ethereum Mainnet with Infura

In order to build and deploy decentralized applications (DApps) on the Ethereum blockchain, you will need to connect to the Ethereum mainnet, which is the live Ethereum network where your DApps will be deployed and run.

One way to connect to the Ethereum mainnet is by using a service called Infura, which is a cloud-based Ethereum node service that allows you to access the Ethereum mainnet and other Ethereum networks from anywhere.

In this article, we will cover the steps you need to take to connect to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura.

What is Infura?

Infura is a cloud-based Ethereum node service that allows you to access the Ethereum mainnet and other Ethereum networks from anywhere. It provides a simple and reliable way to connect to the Ethereum blockchain without the need to run your own Ethereum node.

Infura is an essential tool for any developer looking to build and deploy DApps on the Ethereum blockchain, as it allows you to easily connect to the Ethereum mainnet and other Ethereum networks from any device.

Creating an Infura Account

To use Infura, you will need to create an account on the Infura website (https://infura.io). Creating an account is free and only takes a few minutes.

To create an account, visit the Infura website and click the “Sign Up” button. This will open a new page where you can enter your email address and create a password.

Once you have entered your email and password, click the “Sign Up” button to create your account.

You will then be redirected to the Infura dashboard, where you can create new projects and manage your API keys.

Creating a Project

To use Infura, you will need to create a new project. A project is a collection of API endpoints that you can use to access the Ethereum mainnet and other Ethereum networks.

To create a new project, click the “Create New Project” button on the Infura dashboard. This will open a new page where you can enter the name and settings for your project.

In the “Name” field, enter a name for your project. This can be anything you like, such as “My DApp” or “Test Project”.

In the “Network” field, select the Ethereum network that you want to connect to. You can choose from the Ethereum mainnet, various test networks, or any custom networks that you have created.

Once you have entered the desired settings, click the “Create Project” button to create your project and generate your API keys.

Retrieving Your API Keys

Once you have created your project, you will need to retrieve your API keys in order to connect to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura.

To retrieve your API keys, click on your project in the Infura dashboard and click the “API Keys” tab. This will display your API keys for your project.

You will need to copy the “Endpoint URL” for your project, as this is the URL that you will use to connect to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura. The Endpoint URL will be in the format https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-API-KEY, where YOUR-API-KEY is your unique API key for your project.

Connecting to the Ethereum Mainnet with Infura

Now that you have retrieved your API keys, you can use them to connect to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura.

To connect to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura, you will need to use a Web3 provider, such as the Web3.js library.

To connect to the Ethereum mainnet with Web3.js and Infura, you will need to specify the Endpoint URL of your Infura project as the provider.

Here is an example of how you can connect to the Ethereum mainnet with Web3.js and Infura:

const Web3 = require('web3');

const web3 = new Web3('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-API-KEY');

This code creates a new Web3 instance and specifies the Endpoint URL of your Infura project as the provider. You can then use this instance to interact with the Ethereum mainnet using the Web3.js API.

Interacting with the Ethereum Mainnet

Now that you are connected to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura, you can start interacting with it using the Web3.js API.

For example, you can use the web3.eth.getBlockNumber() method to retrieve the current block number of the Ethereum mainnet:

web3.eth.getBlockNumber().then((blockNumber) => {
  console.log(`Current block number: ${blockNumber}`);
});

This code will output the current block number of the Ethereum mainnet to the console.

You can also use the web3.eth.getAccounts() method to retrieve a list of accounts on the Ethereum mainnet:

web3.eth.getAccounts().then((accounts) => {
  console.log(`Accounts: ${accounts}`);
});

This code will output a list of accounts on the Ethereum mainnet to the console.

Conclusion

Connecting to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura is an essential step in the development process for DApps on the Ethereum blockchain. By using Infura, you can easily connect to the Ethereum mainnet and other Ethereum networks from any device, and use the Web3.js library to interact with the Ethereum blockchain.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set up a connection to the Ethereum mainnet with Infura and start building and deploying your DApps on the Ethereum blockchain. With the right tools and a little bit of practice, you will be well on your way to becoming a proficient blockchain developer.

Exercises

To review these concepts, we will go through a series of exercises designed to test your understanding and apply what you have learned.

const Web3 = require('web3');

const web3 = new Web3('https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR-API-KEY');