Bitcoin: REST API documentation

Here’s a draft article on the Bitcoin Core REST API documentation:

Bitcoin Core REST API Documentation

The Bitcoin Core (BTC) blockchain is a decentralized and open-source platform that enables peer-to-peer transactions without the need for intermediaries like banks or central authorities. The Bitcoin network uses a consensus algorithm called Proof of Work (PoW) to validate transactions, and it relies on a distributed ledger called the Block Chain to record all transactions.

Overview of the REST API

The Bitcoin Core REST API provides a simple and intuitive way to interact with the BTC blockchain from outside its boundaries. The API allows developers to access various features of the network, such as getting the latest block or transaction details, sending transactions, and more. In this article, we will provide an overview of the Bitcoin Core REST API documentation.

API Endpoints

The Bitcoin Core REST API provides a range of endpoints that allow you to perform different actions on the network. Here are some of the most commonly used endpoints:

• Get Latest Block: /blockchain/blocks/: Retrieves the latest block in the blockchain.

• Get Transaction: /txs/: Retrieves a transaction by its unique ID.

• Get Transaction Details: /txs//details: Retrieves detailed information about a specific transaction, including the sender and recipient addresses, transaction hash, and more.

• Send Transaction: /txs/: Sends a new transaction to the network.

• List Transactions: /txs/: Lists all transactions in the blockchain.

• Get Wallet Balance: /wallets/

  : Retrieves the balance of a specific wallet address.

API Authentication

The Bitcoin Core REST API uses JSON Web Tokens (JWT) as authentication mechanism. To access the API, you need to generate a JWT token using your wallet’s private key and submit it to the /login endpoint.

*GET /login: Generates a JWT token with your wallet's private key.

*POST /login: Submits the generated token in the Authorization header to authenticate subsequent requests.

API Request Patterns

Here are some common API request patterns:

• GET

  

  : Retrieve a resource (e.g., block, transaction, wallet).

• POST: Create a new resource (e.g., send transaction, update wallet balance).

• PUT: Update an existing resource.

• DELETE: Delete a resource.

API Response Formats

The Bitcoin Core REST API returns JSON responses. The format of the response depends on the action being performed:

• GET: A list of resources with optional pagination information.

• POST: A new resource created, with details about the creation process.

• PUT: An existing resource updated, with details about the update process.

API Error Handling

The Bitcoin Core REST API returns error codes and messages to handle common scenarios:

• 200 OK: The request was successful.

• 400 Bad Request: The request was invalid or failed due to a network issue.

• 404 Not Found: The requested resource was not found.

• 500 Internal Server Error: An unexpected error occurred.

Example Use Cases

Here are some example use cases for the Bitcoin Core REST API:

• Get latest block: curl -X GET "

• Send transaction:curl -X POST -H “Authorization: BIP32PrivateKey= -d ‘{“tx”:”“, “from”:”“}’ http: //localhost:8332/txs/

• Get wallet balance:curl -X GET “

Conclusion

The Bitcoin Core REST API is a powerful tool for interacting with the BTC blockchain from outside its boundaries. By understanding the endpoints, authentication mechanisms, and response formats of the API, you can create robust applications that utilize the network’s features.

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