Polkadot JS: Everything you need to know in one place

If you're diving into the world of Polkadot and looking for a one-stop guide on Polkadot JS, you've come to the right place. Polkadot JS is your toolkit for engaging with the Polkadot network, whether you're developing applications or simply managing tokens. Here's a quick breakdown of what we'll cover:

Polkadot at a Glance: A network connecting different blockchains to work together seamlessly.
What is Polkadot JS?: A set of tools for developers and users to interact with the Polkadot network.
Getting Started: How to set up Polkadot JS tools, including UI, extension, and API.
Using Polkadot JS: From managing your digital wallet to building on the Polkadot network.
Security and Safety: Ensuring your account and transactions are protected.
Troubleshooting: Tips on resolving common issues within Polkadot JS.

Polkadot JS is essential for leveraging the full potential of the Polkadot network, offering a gateway for developers and users alike to navigate, build, and transact within this interconnected blockchain ecosystem. Let's dive in to understand how you can make the most of Polkadot JS.

What is Polkadot JS?

Polkadot JS is a toolkit for people who want to build apps or do things on the Polkadot network. It includes ways to make transactions and manage your wallet.

Purpose of this Ultimate Guide

We've put together this guide to help you understand how to use all the tools and features Polkadot JS offers. Whether you're looking to build something new or just get around the Polkadot network, this guide is here to help.

Understanding Polkadot JS

Polkadot JS is a set of tools that lets both developers and everyday users talk to the Polkadot blockchain. Think of it as a bridge for making apps, managing your digital wallet, moving money around, and more.

Polkadot JS UI

The Polkadot JS UI is all about making it easy to handle your digital wallet and keys. Here’s what it does:

Helps you safely create and back up your account with something called a seed phrase
Lets you check how much money you have and send it to others
Shows you your past and present transactions
Helps you with staking, which is a way to earn rewards by supporting the network

It’s designed to be user-friendly, handling the complicated stuff so you can focus on what you need to do.

Polkadot JS Extension

This is a tool you add to your web browser. It lets websites connect to your Polkadot account to read information or make transactions.

What it’s good for:

Opening your account with a saved file, seed phrase, or QR code
Making and sending transactions
Checking your account balance and details
Sharing transactions with the network

This extension makes it easier for you to use websites that work with Polkadot, keeping your account safe and secure.

Polkadot JS API

This is for developers who want to build stuff on Polkadot. It gives them access to everything the blockchain offers, right from their code.

Here’s what developers can do with it:

Create unique transactions and understand what happens in the network
Connect to different parts of the blockchain
Add support for new blockchain projects
Work with Polkadot’s building blocks in their apps

The API takes care of the complex blockchain communication, letting developers focus on creating cool and useful apps.

Getting Started with Polkadot JS

Installation Guide

Setting up Polkadot JS tools is straightforward. Here's what you need to do:

Visit https://polkadot.js.org/ and pick the tool you're interested in:
- For the UI, choose "PolkadotJS Apps"
- For the Extension, select "PolkadotJS Extension"
- For the API, find and click on "View Docs"
Follow the setup instructions provided for the tool you chose
If you're adding the Extension, you'll need to include it in your browser. For the API, you'll find code samples to kickstart your project.

That's all! Each tool also comes with helpful documentation to guide you through its use.

Creating Your First Account

Here's a simple way to make your first account with the Polkadot JS Extension:

Once the Extension is installed, click its icon in your browser's toolbar
Choose "Create new account"
Enter a password and click "Next". This step keeps your account secure.
Write down the "seed phrase" you're given and store it safely. This is crucial for getting back into your account if needed.
Name your account and hit "Save"

You've now got your first account! You can create more, or add ones you already have, by using the seed phrase.

It's super important to keep your seed phrase in a secure spot. This way, if you can't get into your account for some reason, you can always get back in with this phrase, even if your computer stops working.

Using the Polkadot JS UI

The Polkadot JS UI is like a friendly dashboard for managing your digital wallet and interacting with the Polkadot blockchain. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get comfortable with its main features.

Navigating the UI

You can find the Polkadot JS UI online at https://polkadot.js.org/apps. It includes several important areas:

Accounts - Here, you can take care of your wallet accounts, like adding new ones, saving them securely, or checking how much money you have.
Transfer - This is where you can send money to someone else or receive it.
Staking - If you're interested in earning rewards, this section helps you participate in staking.
Network - Get to know the Polkadot network better by exploring validators, chain state, and more.
Developer - If you're building on Polkadot, you'll find useful tools here, including managing metadata.
Settings - Adjust the portal to work the way you like.

The sidebar menu lets you easily move between these features.

Managing Accounts

To add an account you already have:

Click on Accounts
Select "Add account"
Choose "Restore from backup"
Type in your seed phrase and create a password
Click "Restore"

To save your account securely:

Go to the "Backup" section under Accounts
Pick the account and type in your password
Download the JSON file with your seed phrase

To change an account's name:

Visit Accounts
Next to the account name, click the three dots
Select "Set on-chain identity"
Type the new name and hit "Set identity"

Sending and Receiving Funds

To send tokens:

Head to Transfer
Choose who's sending and receiving
Type how much you want to send
Click "Make Transfer" and approve the transaction

To receive money, just share your account's address with the sender. You can easily copy this address under Accounts.

The Transfer section also shows a list of all your past transactions, so you can keep track of your money.

And that's the basics of using the Polkadot JS UI wallet! Don't forget to explore everything the portal offers, from staking and governance to tools for developers.

Polkadot JS Extension Features

The Polkadot JS Extension is a tool that helps keep your Polkadot wallet safe and secure when you use it online. It's like a guard dog for your digital money.

Phishing Protection

One cool feature is that it helps protect you from bad websites trying to trick you into giving away your money or personal info. It checks the website you're visiting against a list of known bad sites and warns you if something's not right.

To turn on this safety feature, just go into the Extension's settings and make sure the option to block dangerous sites is on. This means the Extension will always be on the lookout, adding an extra layer of safety on top of what your web browser already does.

Account Backup & Recovery

Keeping a backup of your account is super important. If something goes wrong, like if you lose your computer or forget your password, having a backup means you won't lose access to your money.

Here's how to backup your account:

Click the Extension icon and pick the account you want to backup
Hit "Export account"
Type in your password
Save the file that downloads. It's a special file that has your account's backup info.

The most important part of this file is your seed phrase. Think of it as a master key that can unlock your account. Keep it safe, maybe in a locked drawer or safe, and don't share it with anyone.

If you ever need to get back into your account because you lost access, you can use this seed phrase or the backup file. Just go to the Extension, click "Add account", then "Import account", and follow the steps to get everything back.

Backing up your account is a smart move. It means you've got a plan just in case things go sideways.

Interacting via the Polkadot JS API

The Polkadot JS API lets developers work with the Polkadot blockchain, allowing them to look up information that's stored on the blockchain and to send in new transactions.

Querying On-chain Data

With the API, you can easily find out things about the blockchain, like account details or how much someone has in their wallet. Here's a simple way to do it:

// Import API 
const { ApiPromise, WsProvider } = require('@polkadot/api');

// Create API instance  
const provider = new WsProvider('wss://rpc.polkadot.io');
const api = new ApiPromise({ provider }); 

// Get account nonce
let nonce = await api.query.system.account(address);

You can get a lot of different information this way. The API makes it easy by connecting to the blockchain and organizing the data for you.

Some key points:

Use methods like api.query.* to find out stuff from the blockchain
The results come back in a way that's easy to understand and use
It doesn't stop other things from happening while it's getting the info

This makes getting data from the blockchain straightforward for developers.

Submitting Extrinsics

The API is also great for sending transactions, like moving tokens from one account to another. Here's how you can do it:

// Import utilities
const { Keyring } = require('@polkadot/keyring');
const { ApiPromise, WsProvider } = require('@polkadot/api');

// Set up API instance 
const provider = new WsProvider('wss://rpc.polkadot.io');
const api = new ApiPromise({ provider });

// Create key pair   
const keyring = new Keyring({ type: 'sr25519' });
const alice = keyring.addFromUri('//Alice');

// Construct and submit transfer
api.tx.balances
  .transfer(recipient, 123)
  .signAndSend(alice);

Here's what you need to know:

Use methods like api.tx.* to make transactions
Keyring helps with managing your keys and signing things
You make transactions using specific parts of the blockchain, called modules

This way, the API makes creating and sending transactions less complicated, helping developers focus on building their apps without getting bogged down by blockchain details.

Troubleshooting Issues

When you're using Polkadot JS, sometimes things don't go as planned. Here's a handy guide to fix common problems.

Encryption Errors

If you get a message that your account couldn't be opened because of encryption issues, it's often due to an update. Here's how to fix it:

Check that you have your seed phrase. This is key to getting back into your account.
Remove the account that's not opening right and add it back with your seed phrase.
Set up a new password for your account.

This should solve the problem by updating your account's security.

Transaction Errors

Sometimes, sending tokens doesn't work out. Here are a few errors you might see and what to do:

1001 - Overflow Error: This means you tried to send more money than you have. Look at your balance and try sending a smaller amount.

1003 - Failed to Send: Your transaction didn't go through, possibly because the network is busy or there's an issue with the person you're sending to. Wait a bit and try again.

1004 - Invalid Transaction: Something's wrong with the transaction details. Double-check everything and send it again.

1050 - Version Change Consumed: Your transaction got bumped because something else changed the data first. Just try sending it again.

If you run into these issues, the key is to understand the error code and adjust your actions accordingly. The Polkadot JS API documentation is a great resource for more details on errors.

Conclusion

Summary of Topics

Introduction to Polkadot and its toolkit, Polkadot JS
Detailed look at Polkadot JS UI, Extension, and API
Step-by-step guides on setting up and navigating Polkadot JS
How to manage your wallet account and send tokens
Security measures to keep your account safe
Tools for developers to build on the Polkadot network
Help with common problems and how to solve them

Importance of Polkadot JS

Polkadot JS is a key tool for anyone wanting to use the Polkadot network. It makes dealing with the complex world of blockchain simpler. Whether you're a developer looking to create something new or just someone curious about cryptocurrency, Polkadot JS has something for you. It's crucial for making Polkadot's dream of a web controlled by its users a reality, by giving people the power to create, share, and manage their digital assets easily.

What are the fundamentals of Polkadot?

Polkadot connects different blockchains so they can work together. Here are some basics:

DOT tokens are used for making decisions, running the network, connecting special blockchains called parachains, and paying for transactions.
The Relay Chain is the main chain that helps different chains talk and work together.
Parachains are unique blockchains that can send messages to each other through Polkadot.
Validators help keep the network safe by locking up DOTs as a form of security.
Governance is where DOT token holders vote on changes to the network.

Polkadot's design lets different blockchain projects benefit from being part of a bigger network while still doing their own thing.

How does Polkadot-JS work?

Polkadot-JS is a tool for developers to easily interact with the Polkadot network. It simplifies:

Automatically creating ways to talk to blockchain nodes
Making it easy to get data and send transactions with commands like api.query and api.tx
Handling keys and accounts without developers worrying about the details
Keeping up with updates to the blockchain
Providing lots of help and examples for developers

Basically, it makes working with the Polkadot blockchain much simpler for developers.

What is Polkadot explained simply?

Think of Polkadot as an internet of blockchains. It allows different blockchains to share information and transactions without needing a middleman. This means developers can create their own blockchains but still connect with others, sharing security and the ability to talk to each other.

Is Polkadot-JS safe?

Yes, Polkadot-JS is built with safety in mind. It supports secure hardware wallets, encrypted files for storing keys, backup options like seed phrases, ways to use it without risking your keys, and checks to protect you from fake websites. While developers should always be careful, especially with key management and data checking, Polkadot-JS is a solid choice for building safe apps that connect to Polkadot.