Block API

Retrieve block and block header information from the Hive blockchain

The Block API provides access to blockchain blocks and their headers. Use these endpoints to retrieve block data for analysis, verification, or synchronization.

get_block

Retrieve a complete block including transactions by block number.

TypeScript

import { createHiveChain } from "@hiveio/wax";

const chain = await createHiveChain();

const result = await chain.api.block_api.get_block({
  block_num: 80000000
});

if (result.block) {
  console.log(`Block ID: ${result.block.block_id}`);
  console.log(`Witness: ${result.block.witness}`);
  console.log(`Transactions: ${result.block.transactions.length}`);
}

Parameters

block_num · number · required

The block number to retrieve

Response

block · ApiBlock | undefined

The block object, or undefined if block doesn’t exist

Show ApiBlock properties

block_id · string

Unique block identifier

previous · string

Previous block ID

timestamp · string

Block timestamp in ISO format

witness · string

Witness account name that produced this block

transaction_merkle_root · string

Merkle root of all transactions in this block

witness_signature · string

Witness signature for this block

signing_key · string

Public key used to sign this block

transactions · ApiTransaction[]

Array of transactions in this block

transaction_ids · string[]

Array of transaction IDs in this block

extensions · object[]

Block extensions

Example Response

{
  "block": {
    "block_id": "04c1c7a566fc0da66aee465714acee7346b48ac2",
    "previous": "04c1c7a4e8b9a0c1234567890abcdef012345678",
    "timestamp": "2026-03-04T12:00:00",
    "witness": "blocktrades",
    "transaction_merkle_root": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
    "witness_signature": "1f7f0c3e89e6ccef1ae156a96fb4255e619ca3a73ef3be46746b4b40a66cc4252070eb313cc6308bbee39a0a9fc38ef99137ead3c9b003584c0a1b8f5ca2ff8707",
    "signing_key": "STM6vJmrwaX5TjgTS9dPH8KsArso5m91fVodJvv91j7G765wqcNM9",
    "transactions": [],
    "transaction_ids": [],
    "extensions": []
  }
}

get_block_header

Retrieve only the block header without transaction data.

TypeScript

import { createHiveChain } from "@hiveio/wax";

const chain = await createHiveChain();

const result = await chain.api.block_api.get_block_header({
  block_num: 80000000
});

console.log(`Timestamp: ${result.header.timestamp}`);
console.log(`Witness: ${result.header.witness}`);

Parameters

block_num · number · required

The block number to retrieve

Response

header · ApiBlockHeader

The block header object

Show ApiBlockHeader properties

previous · string

Previous block ID

timestamp · string

Block timestamp in ISO format

witness · string

Witness account name that produced this block

transaction_merkle_root · string

Merkle root of all transactions in this block

extensions · object[]

Block extensions

Example Response

{
  "header": {
    "previous": "04c1c7a4e8b9a0c1234567890abcdef012345678",
    "timestamp": "2026-03-04T12:00:00",
    "witness": "blocktrades",
    "transaction_merkle_root": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
    "extensions": []
  }
}

get_block_range

Retrieve multiple consecutive blocks in a single request.

TypeScript

import { createHiveChain } from "@hiveio/wax";

const chain = await createHiveChain();

const result = await chain.api.block_api.get_block_range({
  starting_block_num: 80000000,
  count: 10
});

console.log(`Retrieved ${result.blocks.length} blocks`);
result.blocks.forEach(block => {
  console.log(`Block ${block.block_id}: ${block.transactions.length} transactions`);
});

Parameters

starting_block_num · number · required

The first block number to retrieve

count · number · required

Number of consecutive blocks to retrieve

Response

blocks · ApiBlock[]

Array of block objects. See get_block for block structure.

Example Response

{
  "blocks": [
    {
      "block_id": "04c1c7a566fc0da66aee465714acee7346b48ac2",
      "previous": "04c1c7a4e8b9a0c1234567890abcdef012345678",
      "timestamp": "2026-03-04T12:00:00",
      "witness": "blocktrades",
      "transactions": [],
      "transaction_ids": []
    },
    {
      "block_id": "04c1c7a666fc0da66aee465714acee7346b48ac3",
      "previous": "04c1c7a566fc0da66aee465714acee7346b48ac2",
      "timestamp": "2026-03-04T12:00:03",
      "witness": "good-karma",
      "transactions": [],
      "transaction_ids": []
    }
  ]
}

Common use cases

Sync blockchain data

Use get_block_range to efficiently sync multiple blocks:

const BATCH_SIZE = 100;
let currentBlock = 80000000;

while (currentBlock < targetBlock) {
  const result = await chain.api.block_api.get_block_range({
    starting_block_num: currentBlock,
    count: BATCH_SIZE
  });
  
  // Process blocks
  for (const block of result.blocks) {
    await processBlock(block);
  }
  
  currentBlock += BATCH_SIZE;
}

Verify block integrity

Check block header information without downloading full transaction data:

const header = await chain.api.block_api.get_block_header({
  block_num: 80000000
});

// Verify witness and timestamp
if (header.header.witness === expectedWitness) {
  console.log("Block verified");
}