Hedera is a decentralized ledger technology (DLT) that uses a Decentralized Acrylic Graph (DAG) known as the Hashgraph consensus to increase and secure transaction processing. Hedera makes notable design trade-offs to balance transparency, decentralization, security, and transaction processing speed.
For one, Hedera only allows approved nodes to determine transaction history. As a result, this DLT can process more transactions per second (about 10k TPS) with low latency finality.
Moreover, unlike public chains where all codes need to be made public, this DLT uses Hashgraph, a patented algorithm where only the approved network nodes communicate with each other securely. This alleviates the regulatory, privacy, and compliance concerns for companies who want to use blockchain technology.
As a developer, Hedera has made a significant improvement that makes the development of high-end DApps possible. For example, a notable improvement to existing tokenization technology (such as token swaps, multi-token atomic swaps, token self-burning, etc.) allows developers to design and develop high-grade assets. Also, the addition of Sharding and other important scaling options improves network performance and capacity.
If you’re looking to develop on Hedera but don’t know what reliable data providers you should employ, here are the top APIs on the Hedera network to implement a successful DApp project.
1. Bitquery Hedera API
The Bitquery Hedera API allows you to access historical and real-time blockchain data on the Hedera DLT. Dedicated to solving blockchain data problems, BitQuery API parses, indexes, and store data in a unified manner.
With the capability to access data from more than 40 blockchains, including Hedera, BitQuery crosses the “chain chasm.” It delivers a cross-chain product that allows developers to access accurate historical and real-time data for market analysis, money flow analysis, DEX trading, NFT trading, scientific research, and DeFi product development.
A user-friendly interface and a comprehensive API for on-chain data analysis put BitQuery at the forefront of providing reliable and relevant data. With GraphQL API, you can access Hedera on-chain data in real life, analyze DEX markets, build analysis charts, and visualize the data to gain valuable insights.
With an easy-to-implement API code, you can easily access the input, output, transaction, messages, and other important information. If you encounter a roadblock, the well-organized documentation and the active community of BitQuery API users will walk you through any difficulties.
Here are basic APIs to explore various aspects of the Hedera DLT data:
1. Coinpath API
The Coinpath API allows you to track and analyze transactions (historical and real-time) on the Hedera chain. With this API, you gain insight into the flow of funds on Hedera. You can also unravel the mystery about the origin, destination, and movement of different tokens on Hedera.
2. Transactions API
Use the Transaction API to access past historical data on Hedera. Analyze trends, conduct research, and find patterns for making informed decisions.
3. Arguments API
With the Argument API, you can find information about event arguments and details about the specific transaction on Hedera. You can also examine argument functions, interact with external addresses, and audit contracts.
4. Address API
Explore and monitor individual address balance. Identify address association with the address API. Use the address, annotation, balance, and TokenBalances parameter to gain insight into the DLT.
5. Calls API
The Calls API provides you with the necessary information about the different calls made on the DLT. With this API, you check and analyze token movements, minting, transfer, and burning. Find and answer questions related to token distribution and circulation of interested tokens.
2. Arkhia API
Arkhia is an enterprise-grade Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider for decentralized technology. They provide comprehensive tools and infrastructure for web3 developers on the Hedera hashgraph network.
Their API suite/Web-based GUI provides access to the Hedera DLT to create services for mission-critical apps. Their scalable solution, reliable support, and robust APIs provides a reliable data source connection. This data provider ensures that your mission-critical sources don’t fail when you need them most.
Arkhia API also helps enhance and streamline developers’ operations and analysis to build reliable and scalable apps.
3. Trust Enterprise API
Trust Enterprise API is a serverless Hedera API that provides a simple but flexible functionality layer between Hedera JS clients. It offers off-chain smart contract-like logic DeFi solution, and it can reach about 300TPS as a cluster.
This API is a cost-effective open-source solution for a no-coder who wants to leverage the benefit of web3 and blockchain. It offers a one-click secure deployment that requires no additional blockchain experience. Trust API is at the intersection of decentralization, ease of use, and low cost. This data tool helps you create publicly provable accountability for your SaaS product without building a DApp from scratch.
In web3, all codes need to be public for transparency, which raises regulatory, compliance, and privacy concerns for companies. Trust enterprise API helps solve this problem by only showing business elements needed for public accountability while keeping users’ and client privacy in check.
4. Hedera’s Mirror Node REST API
This is like a database that contains the history of all transactions occurring on the Hedera mainnet, testnet, and preview net. It consists of nine endpoints to retrieve information (accounts, balances, blocks, contracts, networks, schedules, tokens, topics, and transactions.). And can only process just 100 requests per second (RPS).
Hedera’s mirror node REST API stores the history of transactions and archives on-chain data from consensus nodes, then sends it via an API. This API has lower compute and bandwidth requirements and saves only the essential data for a lower storage requirements.
Apart from API services, Hedera’s mirror node REST API is also used for security threat modeling, auditing, data analytics, and so on. It’s an easy-to-use API to make integration seamless and smooth for programmers.
5. DragonGlass API
The DragonGlass API is a cloud-based service that offers a simple and accurate way to access blockchain data.
Unlike BitQuery, this API only supports private and permission DLTs and provides a single data source across different DLT networks. Its highly scalable infrastructure makes it compatible with any DApp.
DragonGlass API also provides automated data services to developers so they can focus on building their DApp.
6. HGraph’s GraphQL API
This data provider is a scalable, secure, and cost-effective web3 solution that offers incredible visibility into the health and activity of the Hedera ecosystem. It has a compressive web3 tooling that effortlessly integrates into Hedera hashgraph.
With GraphQL compatibility, HGraph’s GraphQL API offers an enterprise-grade solution for the Hedera network and simplifies the connection process of your DApp to the ecosystem. With this, you can expedite data access and analytics insights in DeFi applications and other web3 products.
Finally, it is efficient, cost-effective, and fast to drive a better user experience.
7. Harshport API
Harshport is a public utility tool that enables the flow of digital assets between decentralized networks. It’s a trustless two-way DLT portal that offers interoperability between 12 blockchain networks (which include Hedera, Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Optimism, Arbitrum, Fantom, and Cronos.)
The Harshport API allows DApps or web3 saas products to integrate into the Harshport infrastructure and let developers port tokens to and from Hedera and other supported ecosystems.
Harshport is based on REST architecture and has predictable resource-oriented URLs. It also accepts form-encoded request bodies and uses standard HTTP response codes and authentications. And also return JSON-encoded responses.
Overall, it is easy to set up for smooth integration into the Hedera network.
8. Acoer’s Data Stamping API
Acoer’s Data Stamping API is an interface that allows users to put a tamper-proof seal on their digital information on the Hedera DLT. You can authenticate your data with stamps like geolocations, dates, time, 2D barcodes, etc.
The benefit of this API is that it allows the creation of a robust data security framework in an era when data is primary for decision-making and innovation. Acoer’s Data stamping API let developers gain unparalleled levels of data security and transparency in the digital age.
9. JSON RPC Relay API
JSON RPC Relay API is an open-source project implementing the Ethereum JSON-RPC standard. It allows developers to interact with Hedera nodes using Ethereum developer tools. This relay API uses both the Hedera consensus and mirror nodes to support RPC queries. The endpoint enables the communication between EVM-compatible developer tools using the API.
With the JSON RPC relay API, you don’t just interact; you also execute, deploy, and query contracts on the Hedera network as you would on the Ethereum chain. It’s a server you run on your own. It has no rate limit or signup requirements. It’s also one of the most reliable API endpoints and a great alternative for local development and testing.
However, On the contrary, it requires several complex steps to set up.
There are several factors you should consider when building a web3 DApp. One of them is choosing the best data provider for your product. The success of your product rests on the smooth and seamless integration of your DApp to the blockchain.
If you feel overwhelmed when selecting a data provider for a DApp you’re building for Hedera, here are things you should consider.
1. Scalability and Future Support
Every product tends to grow, and you don’t want to stay stranded when your product outgrows your data provider’s capability. So, before selecting a Hedera data provider, consider the API’s ability to handle scalable projects and provide ongoing support.
Inquire about the team behind the API. Does the data provider have the resources to support your DApp growth in the future? What’s their current customer support like? Does the team have the experience and ability?
2. Reliability
Web3, either traditional blockchains or DLT, is built on trust. So, reliability is important and should be considered when selecting a data provider for your DApp. You don’t want your DApp to shut down because of the inefficiency of the data provider.
When you choose a data provider, you should ensure the API provides seamless access to real-time and historical Hedera data. They should have a simple connection process to the API. The data points functionality should always be available and reliable.
3. Customization and Flexibility
Every web3 project has unique data requirements. So, your Hedera data provider should offer customization options. You should have the flexibility to tailor the web3 API to your specific needs.
Bitquery offers a flexible tool that allows users to select parameters based on their specific needs. While you can pick pre-made parameters, if you have the expertise to use the interface, you can also easily manipulate the code to suit your needs.
4. Developer Friendly Tool
Developing and implementing Web3 projects is difficult enough. So, the problem of a complex API or data provider shouldn’t be part of your headache. If you want to choose a data provider for your Hedera DApp, ensure the API is easy to use.
Check if there is a support system to guide you through the product usage. What’s the activity level of the community? How proactive is the customer service team?
Don’t just buy a product; opt for something that solves your problem.
5. Pricing Factor
Finally, you need to consider the associated cost when choosing an API data source for your Hedera DApp. Ensure you take note of the pricing model of your API before making a decision.
Check if the pricing model is a pay-as-you go based model or a subscription based model. You don’t want to spend unnecessarily on APIs subscriptions that you won’t need.
Bitquery pricing, for example, is based on a point pricing system. It’s a six-tiered pricing system where you select an option based on your unique need. The free-tiered option, known as the developer, offers you ten thousand free points per month and allows you to make ten API calls per minute.
Selecting the right blockchain data provider and API is a critical step in the development journey of any web3 project. If you previously felt overwhelmed about choosing an API for your Hedera DApp project; reading this article, you can confidently make the right choice without risk.