---
description: Inspecting Transaction Execution with Trace, VMTrace, and StateDiff
metaLinks:
  alternates:
    - >-
      https://app.gitbook.com/s/3DGBf2RdbfoitX1XMgq0/interacting-with-erigon/interacting-with-erigon/trace
---

# trace

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.

```bash
./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.

#### Flat Tracers

As of v3.4, Erigon supports **flat tracers**, which produce OpenEthereum-compatible call traces in a flat (non-nested) list format. Each call frame is emitted as a separate object with an explicit `subtraces` count, matching the standard output format of `trace_transaction` and `trace_block`. Flat tracers are available for all ad-hoc tracing methods by including `"trace"` in the trace type array.

#### 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`).

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**: For replaying mined transactions, your node must be in archive mode, or the transaction must be within the most recent 1000 blocks.
{% endhint %}

## 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 `CREATE`s, `SUICIDE`s 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.md#trace_call)
* [trace\_callMany](trace.md#trace_callmany)
* [trace\_rawTransaction](trace.md#trace_rawtransaction)
* [trace\_replayBlockTransactions](trace.md#trace_replayblocktransactions)
* [trace\_replayTransaction](trace.md#trace_replaytransaction)

#### Transaction-Trace Filtering

* [trace\_block](trace.md#trace_block)
* [trace\_filter](trace.md#trace_filter)
* [trace\_get](trace.md#trace_get)
* [trace\_transaction](trace.md#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

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
curl --data '{"method":"trace_call","params":[{ ... },["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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](trace.md#the-default-block-parameter).

```js
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

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
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
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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"`.

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```js
params: [
  "0xd46e8dd67c5d32be8d46e8dd67c5d32be8058bb8eb970870f072445675058bb8eb970870f072445675",
  ["trace"]
]
```
{% endcode %}

#### Returns

* `Object` - Block traces.

#### Example

Request

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
curl --data '{"method":"trace_rawTransaction","params":["0xd46e8dd67c5d32be8d46e8dd67c5d32be8058bb8eb970870f072445675058bb8eb970870f072445675",["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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"`.

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

#### Returns

* `Array` - Block transactions traces.

#### Example

Request

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
curl --data '{"method":"trace_replayBlockTransactions","params":["0x2ed119",["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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"`.

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

#### Returns

* `Object` - Block traces.

#### Example

Request

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
curl --data '{"method":"trace_replayTransaction","params":["0x02d4a872e096445e80d05276ee756cefef7f3b376bcec14246469c0cd97dad8f",["trace"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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'`.

```js
params: [
  "0x2ed119" // 3068185
]
```

#### Returns

* `Array` - Block traces.

#### Example

Request

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
curl --data '{"method":"trace_block","params":["0x2ed119"],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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.
   * `mode`: `String` - (optional) Default is `"union"`, meaning traces matching either address filter are returned. Set to `"intersection"` to only return traces that satisfy both `fromAddress` and `toAddress` filters simultaneously.


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

#### Returns

* `Array` - Traces matching given filter

#### Example

Request

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
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
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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.

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

#### Returns

* `Object` - Trace object

#### Example

Request

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
curl --data '{"method":"trace_get","params":["0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3",["0x0"]],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```js
params: ["0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3"]
```
{% endcode %}

#### Returns

* `Array` - Traces of given transaction

#### Example

Request

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
curl --data '{"method":"trace_transaction","params":["0x17104ac9d3312d8c136b7f44d4b8b47852618065ebfa534bd2d3b5ef218ca1f3"],"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST localhost:8545
```
{% endcode %}

Response

```js
{
  "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"
    },
    ...
  ]
}
```
