> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

# Get started with Infura

## 1. Sign up to Infura[​](#1-sign-up-to-infura "Direct link to 1. Sign up to Infura")

Infura offers a comprehensive set of services to facilitate dapp and [Snap development](/snaps/). Sign up for an account on the [Infura dashboard](https://app.infura.io/register).

To activate your account, verify your email address by clicking the link sent to your inbox.

API key restrictions

Based on your plan, Infura allows for the following number of API keys:

- Free plan - Allows one API key.
- Developer plan - Allows up to five API keys.
- Team plans and higher - No limit on the number of API keys.

For more information refer to the [Infura pricing information](https://www.infura.io/pricing).

## 2. View your API key[​](#2-view-your-api-key "Direct link to 2. View your API key")

After verification, you'll be directed to the [Infura dashboard](/developer-tools/dashboard/)where you can view or configure your API key. Infura automatically generates the **My First Key** API key.

Select **My First Key** or the **Configure** link to view your API key settings.

![](/assets/images/first-api-key-9eb6a5b78c5cbd3110673eb2c32337e4.png)

In the **All Endpoints** tab that displays, all network endpoints are enabled by default, and you can view your API key.

## 3. Send requests[​](#3-send-requests "Direct link to 3. Send requests")

Use the API key when sending requests. The following examples interact with the Ethereum network by sending requests using HTTP.

info

- All requests are `POST` requests.
- Replace `<YOUR-API-KEY>` with your own unique API key.
- We recommend using Postman if you're a Windows user.

Use a tool such as the [Client Uniform Resource Locator (curl)](/services/concepts/curl/) or [Postman](https://www.postman.com/downloads/) to make requests.

<details>
<summary>Supported API methods</summary>

View the supported API methods for each network in the **Reference** section in the left sidebar. The following methods are not supported on any network by Infura:

- `eth_coinbase`
- `eth_sendTransaction`
- `eth_sign`

Infura doesn't store the user's private key required to sign transactions. You can use [web3.eth.sendTransaction](https://docs.web3js.org/api/web3-eth/function/sendTransaction), which signs the transaction locally using the private key of the account, and sends the transaction via [web3.eth.sendSignedTransaction](https://docs.web3js.org/api/web3-eth/function/sendSignedTransaction), which is a wrapper for [eth_sendRawTransaction](/services/reference/ethereum/json-rpc-methods/eth%5Fsendrawtransaction/).


</details>

### 3.1 Get the current block number[​](#31-get-the-current-block-number "Direct link to 3.1 Get the current block number")

Retrieve the current block number.

- curl
- Postman

```
curl https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/<YOUR-API-KEY> \
  -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1, "method": "eth_blockNumber", "params": []}'

```

```
URL: https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/<YOUR-API-KEY>
Request_Type: POST
Body:
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "eth_blockNumber",
  "params": [],
  "id": 1
}

```

You'll receive a response similar to:

```
{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1, "result": "0xde5fba"}

```

The data returned is in hexadecimal, prefixed with `0x`. If you [convert](https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/number/hex-to-decimal.html) `de5fba` to decimal, the resulting number is 14573498, representing the current block number at the time the query was made.

### 3.2 View the Ether balance of a specified contract[​](#32-view-the-ether-balance-of-a-specified-contract "Direct link to 3.2 View the Ether balance of a specified contract")

Check the balance of an Ethereum smart contract.

The example code checks the latest balance of the Ethereum Proof of Stake (PoS) contract.

- curl
- Postman

```
curl https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/<YOUR-API-KEY> \
  -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "method": "eth_getBalance", "params": ["0x00000000219ab540356cBB839Cbe05303d7705Fa", "latest"], "id": 1}'

```

```
URL: https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/<YOUR-API-KEY>
Request_Type: POST
Body:
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "eth_getBalance",
  "params": [
    "0x00000000219ab540356cBB839Cbe05303d7705Fa",
    "latest"
  ],
  "id": 1
}

```

You'll receive a result similar to:

```
{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 1, "result": "0x96c8e932f1e499c855045"}

```

This result is the hexadecimal value of the contract in wei (the smallest denomination of Ether).

The decimal conversion of the result is `11392978000069000000000069` wei, which equals `11392978.000069000000000069` Ether.

## 4. Secure your API key[​](#4-secure-your-api-key "Direct link to 4. Secure your API key")

[Configure security settings](/developer-tools/dashboard/how-to/secure-an-api/api-key/) by selecting **Configure**. This is optional.

For example, you can force API requests to include the API key secret and/or [JSON Web Tokens (JWTs)](/services/how-to/json-web-token-jwt/).

![Settings Tab](/assets/images/settings-tab-19f125cad745f789d3497bf9cb4ccdc8.png)

## 5. View your project stats[​](#5-view-your-project-stats "Direct link to 5. View your project stats")

The dashboard displays an overview of your daily request health and credit usage. Select **View Stats** or **Stats** (in the left navigation) to monitor your project request stats.

![](/assets/images/analytics-fd04011a56bd571ad38cb5a44652c61a.png)

From the Stats page of the dashboard, view real-time statistics about your API usage. Optimize your app and better understand your users by [reviewing your API request stats](/developer-tools/dashboard/how-to/dashboard-stats/).

## 6. View your credit usage[​](#6-view-your-credit-usage "Direct link to 6. View your credit usage")

The dashboard provides an overview of your daily credit usage. Select **View Usage**for a [wider view of your credit usage](/developer-tools/dashboard/how-to/credit-usage/).

![](/assets/images/view-usage-b9812fd7d7c3c872b8509d88aff550ee.png)

## 7. Manage your account[​](#7-manage-your-account "Direct link to 7. Manage your account")

Find additional settings in the **Settings** menu in the left navigation to manage your account. You can do the following:

- [Set notifications for daily limits](/services/how-to/avoid-rate-limiting/#tips-to-avoid-rate-limiting)from the **Account** option.
- Manage your billing information in the **Billing** option.