> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.getblock.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.getblock.io/api-reference/dogecoin-doge/dogecoin-json-rpc-api/getblockheader-dogecoin.md).

# getblockheader - Dogecoin

Example code for the getblockheader JSON-RPC method. Complete guide on how to use getblockheader JSON-RPC in GetBlock Web3 documentation.

This method returns the header of a block, without the transactions it contains. Pass `verbose` as false to receive the serialized header as hex instead of an object.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type    | Required | Description                                                    |
| --------- | ------- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| blockhash | string  | Yes      | The hash of the block whose header is returned                 |
| verbose   | boolean | No       | True for a JSON object, false for serialized hex. Default true |

## Request

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

```bash
curl --location --request POST 'https://shared.eu-central-1.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data-raw '{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "getblockheader",
    "params": ["afd10312739304ad5809a454bf723dd2f48fedc08600695fee147a23567be1cf", true],
    "id": "getblock.io"
}'
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="bitcoinjs-lib" %}
{% code title="example.js" %}

```javascript
const axios = require('axios');
const { data } = await axios.post('https://shared.eu-central-1.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/', {
  jsonrpc: '2.0', method: 'getblockheader', params: ["afd10312739304ad5809a454bf723dd2f48fedc08600695fee147a23567be1cf", true], id: 'getblock.io'
});
console.log(data.result);
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Request" %}
{% code title="example.py" %}

```python
import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://shared.eu-central-1.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/',
    headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
    json={
        'jsonrpc': '2.0',
        'method': 'getblockheader',
        'params': ["afd10312739304ad5809a454bf723dd2f48fedc08600695fee147a23567be1cf", true],
        'id': 'getblock.io'
    }
)

print(response.json()['result'])
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Rust" %}
{% code title="example.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://shared.eu-central-1.getblock.io/<ACCESS-TOKEN>/")
        .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
        .json(&json!({
            "jsonrpc": "2.0",
            "method": "getblockheader",
            "params": ["afd10312739304ad5809a454bf723dd2f48fedc08600695fee147a23567be1cf", true],
            "id": "getblock.io"
        }))
        .send()
        .await?
        .json::<Value>()
        .await?;

    println!("Result: {}", response["result"]);
    Ok(())
}
```

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

## Response

```json
{
    "error": null,
    "id": "getblock.io",
    "result": {
        "hash": "afd10312739304ad5809a454bf723dd2f48fedc08600695fee147a23567be1cf",
        "confirmations": 43,
        "height": 6378930,
        "version": 6422788,
        "merkleroot": "3033dfe05f5377ca20680dbba85eefd14adbf932ddece22d06980538e8d14809",
        "time": 1789703885,
        "nonce": 0,
        "bits": "1967ad65",
        "difficulty": 41425662.4408129,
        "previousblockhash": "b1b6e89d831683c62b79af87de01df41caa6914fa977e5877027b14d99f0f8f6",
        "nextblockhash": "2ce761c3dff30841f1435165b3315ddf163243477d7bf1969f84e2608ac3a855"
    }
}
```

## Response Parameters

| Parameter                | Type         | Description                                             |
| ------------------------ | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| error                    | null\|object | Error object when the call fails, otherwise null        |
| id                       | string       | Request identifier matching the request                 |
| result.hash              | string       | The block hash                                          |
| result.confirmations     | numeric      | Depth of the block, or -1 if not on the main chain      |
| result.height            | numeric      | Block height                                            |
| result.merkleroot        | string       | Merkle root of the block's transactions                 |
| result.time              | numeric      | Block time as a Unix timestamp                          |
| result.nonce             | numeric      | Block nonce. Always 0 on Dogecoin, which is merge-mined |
| result.bits              | string       | Compact difficulty target                               |
| result.previousblockhash | string       | Hash of the preceding block                             |
| result.nextblockhash     | string       | Hash of the following block, when one exists            |

{% hint style="info" %}
`nonce` is always `0` on Dogecoin. The chain is merge-mined with Litecoin, so the proof of work lives in an AuxPoW header rather than in this field. Do not treat a zero nonce as missing data.
{% endhint %}

## Use Cases

* **Light Verification**: Read a header without pulling the block's transactions
* **Chain Walking**: Follow `previousblockhash` to traverse backwards cheaply
* **Timestamp Checks**: Read a block's time without the payload cost
* **Confirmation Depth**: Read `confirmations` for a known block

## Error Handling

| Error Code | Message           | Description                                   |
| ---------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| -32700     | Parse error       | Request body is not valid JSON                |
| -8         | Invalid parameter | A parameter is out of range or the wrong type |
| -32603     | Internal error    | Node failed to process the request            |