# eth\_blockNumber - Base

The `eth_blockNumber` method returns the number of the most recent block on the Base blockchain. This is a fundamental method for tracking chain progress and is commonly used for synchronization, monitoring, and determining confirmation counts.

## Parameters

* None

## Request

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="cURL" %}
{% code title="cURL" %}

```bash
curl --location --request POST 'https://go.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data-raw '{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "eth_blockNumber",
    "params": [],
    "id": "getblock.io"
}'
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Axios (JavaScript)" %}
{% code title="axios.js" %}

```javascript
const axios = require('axios');

const response = await axios.post('https://go.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/', {
    jsonrpc: '2.0',
    method: 'eth_blockNumber',
    params: [],
    id: 'getblock.io'
}, {
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }
});

console.log('Block Number:', parseInt(response.data.result, 16));
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Requests (Python)" %}
{% code title="requests.py" %}

```python
import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://go.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/',
    headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
    json={
        'jsonrpc': '2.0',
        'method': 'eth_blockNumber',
        'params': [],
        'id': 'getblock.io'
    }
)

result = response.json()
block_number = int(result['result'], 16)
print(f'Block Number: {block_number}')
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Rust" %}
{% code title="main.rs" %}

```rust
use reqwest::Client;
use serde_json::{json, Value};

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
    let client = Client::new();
    
    let response = client
        .post("https://go.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/")
        .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
        .json(&json!({
            "jsonrpc": "2.0",
            "method": "eth_blockNumber",
            "params": [],
            "id": "getblock.io"
        }))
        .send()
        .await?
        .json::<Value>()
        .await?;
    
    println!("Block Number: {}", response["result"]);
    Ok(())
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Response

{% code title="response.json" %}

```json
{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": "getblock.io",
    "result": "0x12d687f"
}
```

{% endcode %}

## Response Parameters

| Parameter | Type   | Description                                            |
| --------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| jsonrpc   | string | JSON-RPC protocol version ("2.0")                      |
| id        | string | Request identifier matching the request                |
| result    | string | Hexadecimal representation of the current block number |

## Use Cases

* Chain Synchronization: Monitor sync progress by comparing local block number with the network
* Transaction Confirmation: Calculate confirmation count by subtracting transaction block from current block
* Event Indexing: Determine starting point for event log queries
* Health Monitoring: Track block production rate to detect chain issues
* Block Polling: Implement block-based polling for new transactions or events

## Error Handling

| Error Code | Message         | Description                                    |
| ---------- | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| -32603     | Internal error  | Node synchronization issue or internal failure |
| -32600     | Invalid request | Malformed JSON-RPC request                     |

## Web3 Integration

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Ethers.js (v6)" %}
{% code title="ethers.js" %}

```javascript
const { ethers } = require('ethers');

const provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider('https://go.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/');

async function getBlockNumber() {
    const blockNumber = await provider.getBlockNumber();
    console.log('Current Block:', blockNumber);
    return blockNumber;
}

getBlockNumber();
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Viem" %}
{% code title="viem.js" %}

```javascript
import { createPublicClient, http } from 'viem';
import { base } from 'viem/chains';

const client = createPublicClient({
    chain: base,
    transport: http('https://go.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/')
});

async function getBlockNumber() {
    const blockNumber = await client.getBlockNumber();
    console.log('Current Block:', blockNumber);
    return blockNumber;
}

getBlockNumber();
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.getblock.io/api-reference/base/eth_blocknumber-base.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.