Block explorer

A block explorer is a tool that users can visualise a blockchain's history with. Each blockchain can be visualised using many different types of block explorer. Block explorers are usually visual representations of the data collected on an archive node of a blockchain.

Different block explorers

Etherscan is one type of block explorer. This is the most prominent smart-contract chain block explorer. It is used for Ethereum mainnet.

BSCScan, another block explorer created by the same team as Etherscan, is the block explorer used to visualize the BnB Chain.

Polygonscan is used on the Polygon blockchain.

Snowtrace is used on the Avalanche Contract Chain network.

FTMScan is used on the Fantom Opera network.

Solanabeach is used on the Solana network.

The NEAR Explorer is used on the NEAR network.

Cronoscan is used on the Cronos network.

TerraFinder is used on the Terra network.

Arbiscan is used on the Arbitrum network.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Many chains have multiple block explorers. Many newer chains use an open source BlockScout as a basic block explorer before a block explorer with more utility is put in place.

Block explorer features

Some block explorers possess more functionality than others. Indeed, given that Solana currently does not have any public archive nodes, it is impossible to say that it even possesses a block explorer if users cannot a transaction that happened a year ago. Some features present on etherscan:

Address

balance

Source value

token list

complete archive of every transactions

internal txns

erc-20 (or equivalent) token transactionns

erc-721 (or equivalent) token txns

labels

contract source code

interaction analytics

transaction action section

DEX Trades for Tokens

Holder distribution lists

Token approval list

In addition, other features like diffcheckers are possible.