# API Specification
NBXplorer is a multi crypto currency lightweight block explorer.
NBXplorer does not index the whole blockchain, rather, it listens transactions and blocks from a trusted full node and index only addresses and transactions which belongs to a DerivationScheme that you decide to track.
This document describes the concepts, while the API endpoints are documented here (opens new window).
# Table of content
# Configuration
You can check the available settings with --help.
NBXplorer can be configured in three way:
- Through command line arguments (eg.
--chains btc) - Through environment variables (eg.
NBXPLORER_CHAINS=btc) - Through configuration file (eg.
chains=btc)
If you use configuration file, you can find it on windows in:
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\NBXplorer\<network>\settings.config
On linux or mac:
~/.nbxplorer/<network>/settings.config
Be careful, if you run NBXplorer with dotnet run, you should do it this way, with settings after the --:
dotnet run --no-launch-profile --no-build -c Release -p .\NBXplorer\NBXplorer.csproj -- --chains btc
Else, launch profiles, which are settings meant to be used only for debugging time, might be taken into account.
# Tracked Sources
A tracked source is a generic way to track a set of scripts (addresses) and its UTXOs, transactions, and balances.
# Derivation scheme
A derivation scheme, also called derivationStrategy in the code, is a flexible way to define how to generate deterministic addresses for a wallet.
NBXplorer will track any addresses on the 0/x, 1/x and x path.
Here a documentation of the different derivation scheme supported:
| Address type | Format |
|---|---|
| P2WPKH | xpub1 |
| P2SH-P2WPKH | xpub1-[p2sh] |
| P2PKH | xpub-[legacy] |
| Multi-sig P2WSH | 2-of-xpub1-xpub2 |
| Multi-sig P2SH-P2WSH | 2-of-xpub1-xpub2-[p2sh] |
| Multi-sig P2SH | 2-of-xpub1-xpub2-[legacy] |
| P2TR | xpub1-[taproot] |
For multisig, the public keys are ordered before generating the address by default for privacy reason, use -[keeporder] to disable it.
You can use more than one options at same time, example: 2-of-xpub1-xpub2-[legacy]-[keeporder]
Most of routes asks for a cryptoCode. This identify the crypto currency to request data from. (eg. BTC, LTC...)
Note: Taproot is incompatible with all other options.
You can create one by calling Tracking derivation scheme or address.
# Groups
A group is a tracked source which serves as a logical method for grouping several tracked sources into a single entity. You can add or remove tracked sources to and from a group.
Additionally, specific addresses can be tracked through the group.
Every address attached by a child tracked source will be added to the group, including all related UTXOs and transactions.
A group can have any number of children, and a group can also be a child of another group. Please note that all the children are returned by Get a group. As such, it is advised not to add too many children to avoid slowing down this call.
A group tracked source's format is GROUP:groupid.
You can create a new group by calling Create a group.
# Addresses
This refers to a tracked source that monitors a single address. It functions similarly to a group, but with only one specific address to it.
The address tracked source's format is ADDRESS:bc1....
You can create one by calling Tracking derivation scheme or address.
# Authentication
By default a cookie file is generated when NBXplorer is starting, for windows in:
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\NBXplorer\<network>\.cookie
On linux or mac:
~/.nbxplorer/<network>/.cookie
The content of this cookie must be used is used as HTTP BASIC authentication to use the API.
This can be disabled with --noauth.
Also, NBXPlorer listen by default on 127.0.0.1, if you want to access it from another machine, run --bind "0.0.0.0".