trace

Inspecting Transaction Execution with Trace, VMTrace, and StateDiff

The trace module is for getting a deeper insight into transaction processing. It includes two sets of calls the transaction trace filtering API and the ad-hoc tracing API.

In order to use the Transaction-Trace Filtering API, Erigon must be fully synced with the argument trace in http.api flag.

./build/bin/erigon --http.api: eth,erigon,trace

As for the Ad-hoc Tracing API, as long the blocks have not yet been pruned, the RPC calls will work.

The Ad-hoc Tracing API

The ad-hoc tracing API allows you to perform diagnostics on calls or transactions—whether they are historical ones from the chain or hypothetical ones not yet mined. As long as the blocks have not yet been pruned, the RPC calls will work.

The diagnostics are requested by providing a configuration object that specifies the tracer type to be executed, allowing for deep insight into EVM execution:

• trace: Provides a Transaction Trace, showing the sequence of all external calls, internal messages, and value transfers that occurred during execution.

• vmTrace: Provides a Virtual Machine Execution Trace, delivering a full step-by-step trace of the EVM's state throughout the transaction, including all opcodes and gas usage.

• stateDiff: Provides a State Difference, detailing all altered portions of the Ethereum state (e.g., storage, balances, nonces) resulting from the transaction's execution.

Providing a Transaction to Trace

There are three primary ways to specify the transaction to be traced:

1. Hypothetical Call: Providing the transaction information (like sender, recipient, and data) as if making a call using eth_call (see trace_call).

2. Raw Transaction: Providing raw, signed transaction data, as when using eth_sendRawTransaction (see trace_rawTransaction).

3. Mined Transaction: Providing a transaction hash for a previously mined transaction (see trace_replayTransaction).

Note: For replaying mined transactions, your node must be in archive mode, or the transaction must be within the most recent 1000 blocks.

The Transaction-Trace Filtering API

These APIs allow you to get a full externality trace on any transaction executed throughout the Erigon chain. Unlike the log filtering API, you are able to search and filter based only upon address information. Information returned includes the execution of all CREATEs, SUICIDEs and all variants of CALL together with input data, output data, gas usage, amount transferred and the success status of each individual action.

traceAddress field

The traceAddress field of all returned traces, gives the exact location in the call trace [index in root, index in first CALL, index in second CALL, ...].

i.e. if the trace is:

A
  CALLs B
    CALLs G
  CALLs C
    CALLs G

then it should look something like:

[ {A: []}, {B: [0]}, {G: [0, 0]}, {C: [1]}, {G: [1, 0]} ]

JSON-RPC methods

Ad-hoc Tracing

• trace_call

• trace_callMany

• trace_rawTransaction

• trace_replayBlockTransactions

• trace_replayTransaction

Transaction-Trace Filtering

• trace_block

• trace_filter

• trace_get

• trace_transaction

JSON-RPC API Reference

trace_call

Executes the given call and returns a number of possible traces for it.

Parameters

1. Object - [Transaction object] where from field is optional and nonce field is omitted.

2. Array - Type of trace, one or more of: "vmTrace", "trace", "stateDiff".

3. Quantity or Tag - (optional) Integer of a block number, or the string 'earliest', 'latest' or 'pending'.

Returns

• Array - Block traces

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_call","params":[{ ... },["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": {
    "output": "0x",
    "stateDiff": null,
    "trace": [{
      "action": { ... },
      "result": {
        "gasUsed": "0x0",
        "output": "0x"
      },
      "subtraces": 0,
      "traceAddress": [],
      "type": "call"
    }],
    "vmTrace": null
  }
}

---

trace_callMany

Performs multiple call traces on top of the same block. i.e. transaction n will be executed on top of a pending block with all n-1 transactions applied (traced) first. Allows to trace dependent transactions.

Parameters

1. Array - List of trace calls with the type of trace, one or more of: "vmTrace", "trace", "stateDiff".

2. Quantity or Tag - (optional) integer block number, or the string 'latest', 'earliest' or 'pending', see the default block parameter.

params: [
  [
    [
      {
        "from": "0x407d73d8a49eeb85d32cf465507dd71d507100c1",
        "to": "0xa94f5374fce5edbc8e2a8697c15331677e6ebf0b",
        "value": "0x186a0"
      },
      ["trace"]
    ],
    [
      {
        "from": "0x407d73d8a49eeb85d32cf465507dd71d507100c1",
        "to": "0xa94f5374fce5edbc8e2a8697c15331677e6ebf0b",
        "value": "0x186a0"
      },
      ["trace"]
    ]
  ],
  "latest"
]

Returns

• Array - Array of the given transactions' traces

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_callMany","params":[[[{"from":"0x407d73d8a49eeb85d32cf465507dd71d507100c1","to":"0xa94f5374fce5edbc8e2a8697c15331677e6ebf0b","value":"0x186a0"},["trace"]],[{"from":"0x407d73d8a49eeb85d32cf465507dd71d507100c1","to":"0xa94f5374fce5edbc8e2a8697c15331677e6ebf0b","value":"0x186a0"},["trace"]]],"latest"],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": [
    {
      "output": "0x",
      "stateDiff": null,
      "trace": [{
        "action": {
          "callType": "call",
          "from": "0x407d73d8a49eeb85d32cf465507dd71d507100c1",
          "gas": "0x1dcd12f8",
          "input": "0x",
          "to": "0xa94f5374fce5edbc8e2a8697c15331677e6ebf0b",
          "value": "0x186a0"
        },
        "result": {
          "gasUsed": "0x0",
          "output": "0x"
        },
        "subtraces": 0,
        "traceAddress": [],
        "type": "call"
      }],
      "vmTrace": null
    },
    {
      "output": "0x",
      "stateDiff": null,
      "trace": [{
        "action": {
          "callType": "call",
          "from": "0x407d73d8a49eeb85d32cf465507dd71d507100c1",
          "gas": "0x1dcd12f8",
          "input": "0x",
          "to": "0xa94f5374fce5edbc8e2a8697c15331677e6ebf0b",
          "value": "0x186a0"
        },
        "result": {
          "gasUsed": "0x0",
          "output": "0x"
        },
        "subtraces": 0,
        "traceAddress": [],
        "type": "call"
      }],
      "vmTrace": null
    }
  ]
}

---

trace_rawTransaction

Traces a call to eth_sendRawTransaction without making the call, returning the traces

Parameters

1. Data - Raw transaction data.

2. Array - Type of trace, one or more of: "vmTrace", "trace", "stateDiff".

params: [
  "0xd46e8dd67c5d32be8d46e8dd67c5d32be8058bb8eb970870f072445675058bb8eb970870f072445675",
  ["trace"]
]

Returns

• Object - Block traces.

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_rawTransaction","params":["0xd46e8dd67c5d32be8d46e8dd67c5d32be8058bb8eb970870f072445675058bb8eb970870f072445675",["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": {
    "output": "0x",
    "stateDiff": null,
    "trace": [{
      "action": { ... },
      "result": {
        "gasUsed": "0x0",
        "output": "0x"
      },
      "subtraces": 0,
      "traceAddress": [],
      "type": "call"
    }],
    "vmTrace": null
  }
}

---

trace_replayBlockTransactions

Replays all transactions in a block returning the requested traces for each transaction.

Parameters

1. Quantity or Tag - Integer of a block number, or the string 'earliest', 'latest' or 'pending'.

2. Array - Type of trace, one or more of: "vmTrace", "trace", "stateDiff".

params: [
  "0x2ed119",
  ["trace"]
]

Returns

• Array - Block transactions traces.

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_replayBlockTransactions","params":["0x2ed119",["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": [
    {
      "output": "0x",
      "stateDiff": null,
      "trace": [{
        "action": { ... },
        "result": {
          "gasUsed": "0x0",
          "output": "0x"
        },
        "subtraces": 0,
        "traceAddress": [],
        "type": "call"
      }],
      "transactionHash": "0x...",
      "vmTrace": null
    },
    { ... }
  ]
}

---

trace_replayTransaction

Replays a transaction, returning the traces.

Parameters

1. Hash - Transaction hash.

2. Array - Type of trace, one or more of: "vmTrace", "trace", "stateDiff".

params: [
  "0x02d4a872e096445e80d05276ee756cefef7f3b376bcec14246469c0cd97dad8f",
  ["trace"]
]

Returns

• Object - Block traces.

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_replayTransaction","params":["0x02d4a872e096445e80d05276ee756cefef7f3b376bcec14246469c0cd97dad8f",["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": {
    "output": "0x",
    "stateDiff": null,
    "trace": [{
      "action": { ... },
      "result": {
        "gasUsed": "0x0",
        "output": "0x"
      },
      "subtraces": 0,
      "traceAddress": [],
      "type": "call"
    }],
    "vmTrace": null
  }
}

---

trace_block

Returns traces created at given block.

Parameters

1. Quantity or Tag - Integer of a block number, or the string 'earliest', 'latest' or 'pending'.

params: [
  "0x2ed119" // 3068185
]

Returns

• Array - Block traces.

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_block","params":["0x2ed119"],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": [
    {
      "action": {
        "callType": "call",
        "from": "0xaa7b131dc60b80d3cf5e59b5a21a666aa039c951",
        "gas": "0x0",
        "input": "0x",
        "to": "0xd40aba8166a212d6892125f079c33e6f5ca19814",
        "value": "0x4768d7effc3fbe"
      },
      "blockHash": "0x7eb25504e4c202cf3d62fd585d3e238f592c780cca82dacb2ed3cb5b38883add",
      "blockNumber": 3068185,
      "result": {
        "gasUsed": "0x0",
        "output": "0x"
      },
      "subtraces": 0,
      "traceAddress": [],
      "transactionHash": "0x07da28d752aba3b9dd7060005e554719c6205c8a3aea358599fc9b245c52f1f6",
      "transactionPosition": 0,
      "type": "call"
    },
    ...
  ]
}

---

trace_filter

Returns traces matching given filter

Parameters

1. Object - The filter object

   • fromBlock: Quantity or Tag - (optional) From this block.

   • toBlock: Quantity or Tag - (optional) To this block.

   • fromAddress: Array - (optional) Sent from these addresses.

   • toAddress: Address - (optional) Sent to these addresses.

   • after: Quantity - (optional) The offset trace number

   • count: Quantity - (optional) Integer number of traces to display in a batch.

params: [{
  "fromBlock": "0x2ed0c4", // 3068100
  "toBlock": "0x2ed128", // 3068200
  "toAddress": ["0x8bbB73BCB5d553B5A556358d27625323Fd781D37"],
  "after": 1000,
  "count": 100
}]

Returns

• Array - Traces matching given filter

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_filter","params":[{"fromBlock":"0x2ed0c4","toBlock":"0x2ed128","toAddress":["0x8bbB73BCB5d553B5A556358d27625323Fd781D37"],"after":1000,"count":100}],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": [
    {
      "action": {
        "callType": "call",
        "from": "0x32be343b94f860124dc4fee278fdcbd38c102d88",
        "gas": "0x4c40d",
        "input": "0x",
        "to": "0x8bbb73bcb5d553b5a556358d27625323fd781d37",
        "value": "0x3f0650ec47fd240000"
      },
      "blockHash": "0x86df301bcdd8248d982dbf039f09faf792684e1aeee99d5b58b77d620008b80f",
      "blockNumber": 3068183,
      "result": {
        "gasUsed": "0x0",
        "output": "0x"
      },
      "subtraces": 0,
      "traceAddress": [],
      "transactionHash": "0x3321a7708b1083130bd78da0d62ead9f6683033231617c9d268e2c7e3fa6c104",
      "transactionPosition": 3,
      "type": "call"
    },
    ...
  ]
}

---

trace_get

Returns trace at given position.

Parameters

1. Hash - Transaction hash.

2. Array - Index positions of the traces.

params: [
  "0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3",
  ["0x0"]
]

Returns

• Object - Trace object

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_get","params":["0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3",["0x0"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": {
    "action": {
      "callType": "call",
      "from": "0x1c39ba39e4735cb65978d4db400ddd70a72dc750",
      "gas": "0x13e99",
      "input": "0x16c72721",
      "to": "0x2bd2326c993dfaef84f696526064ff22eba5b362",
      "value": "0x0"
    },
    "blockHash": "0x7eb25504e4c202cf3d62fd585d3e238f592c780cca82dacb2ed3cb5b38883add",
    "blockNumber": 3068185,
    "result": {
      "gasUsed": "0x183",
      "output": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001"
    },
    "subtraces": 0,
    "traceAddress": [
      0
    ],
    "transactionHash": "0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3",
    "transactionPosition": 2,
    "type": "call"
  }
}

---

trace_transaction

Returns all traces of given transaction

Parameters

1. Hash - Transaction hash

params: ["0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3"]

Returns

• Array - Traces of given transaction

Example

Request

curl --data '{"method":"trace_transaction","params":["0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3"],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545

Response

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": [
    {
      "action": {
        "callType": "call",
        "from": "0x1c39ba39e4735cb65978d4db400ddd70a72dc750",
        "gas": "0x13e99",
        "input": "0x16c72721",
        "to": "0x2bd2326c993dfaef84f696526064ff22eba5b362",
        "value": "0x0"
      },
      "blockHash": "0x7eb25504e4c202cf3d62fd585d3e238f592c780cca82dacb2ed3cb5b38883add",
      "blockNumber": 3068185,
      "result": {
        "gasUsed": "0x183",
        "output": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001"
      },
      "subtraces": 0,
      "traceAddress": [
        0
      ],
      "transactionHash": "0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3",
      "transactionPosition": 2,
      "type": "call"
    },
    ...
  ]
}