# Getting started

## 1. Sign in to paralinker

To sign in the [website](https://paralinker.com/), You can sign in directly using [Metamask Wallet](https://metamask.io/), or sign in via email.

![](https://3851559242-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FdWnQXn9w0LzfZSfrH31H%2Fuploads%2FRsTW6yfnznGexDBXpgyK%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=36f468fa-6292-417a-83c1-e5be0de18c3b)

## 2. Create a project

Once verified, you’ll be taken to the [dashboard](https://dashboard.paralinker.com/) where you can create projects, view stats and explorer.

You must create an API key to authenticate your requests for your project. Click **Add.**&#x20;

From the pop-up, provide a name and select the chain , then click **OK**.

<figure><img src="https://3851559242-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FdWnQXn9w0LzfZSfrH31H%2Fuploads%2FL3mM44Bnv1MVeGpcuU1N%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3dd2f8bb-73e1-4c51-bd57-abecf596ccb2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Use the available endpoints to send API requests by click **View key**.

![](https://3851559242-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FdWnQXn9w0LzfZSfrH31H%2Fuploads%2FclVZCbAnzZcetpyh0DV6%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=e2ee0258-d13a-4555-8d34-66160ba0bad6)

## 3. Send requests

Interact with the project by sending requests. The following examples interact with the Ethereum network by sending requests using HTTP.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
All requests are `POST` requests.
{% endhint %}

Use a tool such as the [Client Uniform Resource Locator (curl)](https://paralinker.gitbook.io/paralinker-docs/learn/curl) or [Postman](https://www.postman.com/downloads/) to make requests.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Replace API-KEY with your own unique API-KEY.
{% endhint %}

### 3.1 Get the current block number

Retrieve the current block number.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="curl" %}

```bash
curl https://eth-mainnet.paralinker.com/api/v1/API-KEY \
-X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1, "method": "eth_blockNumber", "params": []}'
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Postman" %}

```bash
URL: https://eth-mainnet.paralinker.com/api/v1/API-KEY
Request_Type: POST
Body: 
{
    "jsonrpc":"2.0",
    "method":"eth_blockNumber",
    "params":[],
    "id":1
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

You'll receive a response similar to:

```bash
{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"result":"0xde5fba"}
```

The data returned is in hexadecimal, prefixed with `0x`. If you [convert](https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/number/hex-to-decimal.html) `de5fba` to decimal, the resulting number is 14573498, representing the current block number at the time the query was made.

### 3.2 View the Ether balance of a specified contract

Check the balance of an Ethereum smart contract.&#x20;

The example code checks the latest balance of the Ethereum Proof of Stake (PoS) contract.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="curl" %}

```bash
curl https://eth-mainnet.paralinker.com/api/v1/API-KEY \
-X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"eth_getBalance","params": ["0x00000000219ab540356cBB839Cbe05303d7705Fa", "latest"],"id":1}'
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Postman" %}

```bash
URL: https://eth-mainnet.paralinker.com/api/v1/API-KEY
Request_Type: POST
Body: 
{
  "jsonrpc":"2.0",
  "method":"eth_getBalance",
  "params": [
      "0x00000000219ab540356cBB839Cbe05303d7705Fa",
      "latest"
  ],
  "id":1
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

You'll receive a result similar to:

```bash
{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"result":"0x96c8e932f1e499c855045"}
```

This result is the hexadecimal value of the contract in Wei (the smallest denomination of Ether).

The decimal conversion of the result is `11392978000069000000000069` Wei, which equals `11392978.000069000000000069` Ether.&#x20;

## 4. Use the Developer Tools

Provide developer tools to configure, monitor, and analyze API requests.

### 4.1 Dashboard

Instantly check on the high-level health of all your apps in one place, including total requests, median response.

![](https://3851559242-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FdWnQXn9w0LzfZSfrH31H%2Fuploads%2FuGQm5g4EnCT74Fwmwtv8%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=3a61cb08-af21-45b3-80a2-52e6f72c3b39)

### 4.2 Stats

Provides a summary of API usage, automatically generate statistics by time, network and method.

<figure><img src="https://3851559242-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FdWnQXn9w0LzfZSfrH31H%2Fuploads%2Ff7UfMUkuWBpD7TNrRfOc%2Fimg_product_3%402x.png?alt=media&#x26;token=13c3e9a1-67e9-4cec-aeb4-218e5345944a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://3851559242-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FdWnQXn9w0LzfZSfrH31H%2Fuploads%2FCXz0RPDIO4hDUGW03oWZ%2Fimg_product_2%E3%80%91%402x.png?alt=media&#x26;token=2c0fc129-0d47-48fc-a42b-b420afaf2ca9" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### 4.3 Explorer

Provide a real-time query visualizer to help you quickly scan for recent requests and recent errors.

<figure><img src="https://3851559242-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FdWnQXn9w0LzfZSfrH31H%2Fuploads%2F26VcWEw2wH5bBG86OeZN%2Fimg_product_4%402x.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9c6cc1a2-b3c9-4ccf-a8ce-dc6d2b51fe64" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
