The Graph is an important Web3 infrastructure protocol that makes it easy to query blockchain data. By indexing and organizing data from networks like Ethereum, The Graph creates open APIs that developers can use to build blockchain applications. Learning how to leverage The Graph is key for accessing on-chain information.
Hosted and Custom APIs: Accessing Blockchain Data
The Graph uses a system of Curators, Indexers, and Delegators to index and store data from various blockchain networks. Curators signal which data should be indexed by staking the native GRT token. Indexers then query and process this data, making it available through the hosted subgraph APIs. Delegators can assign GRT tokens to Indexers as a sign of confidence in their work. As an end-user looking to query blockchain data, The Graph exposes both hosted and custom APIs:
Hosted APIs are public subgraphs created by Indexers to provide data sets for popular protocols like Uniswap, Aave, Decentraland, and more. These can be queried immediately using sample queries provided in The Graph Explorer…