All about Ankr Api’s
Developer APIs are one of the core services provided by Ankr to empower Web 3.0 adoption through accessible, easy-to-use infrastructure. Ankr’s API services allow users to instantly deploy decentralized applications on the leading blockchains including Binance Chain, Ethereum, Kusama, and Polkadot.
The complexity of blockchains makes it impossible for everyone to interact with them directly; thus, to benefit from the advantages offered by these networks, developers need specific Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Whether you are building an exchange or a payment service; relying on a blockchain as a source of security for supply chain management, or a source of randomness for your gaming application, a variety of APIs are here to help.
This article provides a detailed breakdown of the API services and how it enables developers to cut costs and accelerate time to market.
Binance Smart Chain
Ankr is the only API solution on the market that provides developers access to both the Binance Chain and Binance Smart Chain. A Binance Smart Chain API endpoint offers developers distinct advantages compared to spinning up your own node, such as accelerated initialization times. Also, the API is easier to use and helps you have access to the blockchain information, without deploying a full node and wait days for synchronization.
Please note that Binance Chain and Binance Smart Chain are different chains and need different API access to the respective chains.
You can find more comprehensive documentation here: How to Get Started with BINANCE Smart Chain (BSC)
In short, using the BSC API through Ankr grants you access to all the data stored on that chain. So, for instance, you can explore the transaction history and blocks there for research purposes before building a Dapp.
Ethereum and Ethereum 2.0
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain that is widely used for DeFi applications and Web3. The native cryptocurrency of the platform, ETH, is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization after Bitcoin.
The term Ethereum 2.0 is used to describe a set of upgrades to make Ethereum network more scalable and sustainable by transitioning its blockchain to a more efficient proof-of-stake system.
Having API access will make it much easier to maintain an active Dapp on Ethereum and supplying it with relevant data.
Polkadot
Polkadot is a multichain network that joins the dots between different blockchains by allowing customized side-chains to connect with public ones. The concept of parallel blockchains (“parachains”) at the heart of the network ensures higher transaction throughput than a single blockchain.
Polkadot has a relay chain that provides security and scalability and the parachains connected to it. Thus, the parachains don’t need to be specific blockchains, with all the functionalities of a blockchain.
Ankr’s API services can give you a jumpstart in building Dapps on Polkadot, allowing you to access, extract and use all the data that you might require in the process. Additionally, they can enable you to interact with other parachains.
Kusama
Kusama is a multichain network of blockchains built on Substrate with nearly the same codebase as its “cousin” Polkadot. It provides unprecedented interoperability and scalability for blockchain developers in an experimental environment.
Kusama can help if you want to test your Substrate project. Basically, it is the test environment for Polkadot as Rinkeby and Ropsten are for Ethereum.
Similar to Polkadot, the API service can navigate you through Substrarte’s expanding ecosystem and help you find the right location for your Dapp.
Layer2 API services
With the demand for L2 solutions growing exponentially, Ankr has recently announced that we will be expanding our API services to the most popular L2 projects: Polygon (former Matic) and xDai.
If you’re considering migrating your Ethereum Dapp to xDai or Polygon to optimize user experience with greater speed and lower transaction costs, you’ll need to migrate a lot of data — and having API access will make this process as seamless as possible.
xDai
Founded back in 2018, xDai is an Ethereum-based sidechain designed for quick and cheap transactions, which might take just around 5 seconds to go through and cost as little as $0.01.
To achieve this goal, xDai employs a version of delegated Proof of Stake (DPOS) consensus called POSDAO and a native multi-chain token called STAKE.
Polygon
Formerly known as Matic Network, Polygon offers a rapidly growing framework that ultimately aims to transform Ethereum into a full-fledged multi-chain system, or, as they put it themselves, the “Internet of blockchains”.
Through Polygon, developers can create practically any kind of infra, be it optimistic rollup chains, ZK rollup chains, stand-alone chains, or other L2 solutions. Polygon has quickly become one of the main scaling choices for Ethereum native developers who need their users to perform dozens of transactions in a quick, almost gas-less manner.
How to get started
To get started with the API of your choice:
- Login to your Ankr account (sign up here if you haven’t)
- In the sidebar to the left click APIs
- Select the application you need, click Create API, and select the network you want to use
- Once you have created the project you can view it in the API menu. On the details page, you can click the copy icon to get the endpoint.
You’re all set! From your personal account, you can view the status of the API, API documentation, as well as copy the API Endpoint.
Node or API?
The difference between a full node and an API is that for the full node you need to have all the blockchain downloaded, covering all the functionalities of it, and with an API, you are connected to a full node and you can ask requests without the need of big storage. For example, if you want to start playing with different blockchains or if you want to experiment with different things where you only need to request some information from the blockchain, you will definitely choose an API. After you are more aware of what you can do with that specific node or you need more resources and faster responses, you can choose to use a full node.
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