RPC Browser

The RPC Browser lets you explore and query RPC endpoints on any managed or external node. It provides instant navigation through the endpoint tree with JSON syntax highlighting and response metrics.

Opening RPC Browser

From the Instances page, press r to open the RPC Browser.

Alternatively, select a node instance, press Enter, and choose Browse RPC from the action menu.

Quick Access Shortcuts

When at the root of the endpoint tree, number keys jump directly to common endpoints:

Key	Endpoint	Description
1	/version	Node version info
2	/chains/main/blocks/head	Latest block
3	/chains/main/is_bootstrapped	Bootstrap status
4	/network/connections	Connected peers
5	/config/network	Network configuration

Navigating Endpoints

The browser shows three types of entries:

Type	Indicator	Description
[SUB]	Subdirectory	Navigate into with Enter
[GET]	GET endpoint	Execute request with Enter
[DYN:type]	Dynamic segment	Prompts for value (e.g., block hash)

Navigation Keys

Key	Action
↑/↓ or j/k	Move cursor
Enter	Select entry or execute GET
Backspace or u	Go up one level
Esc	Back to previous page
Tab	Cycle between instances
r	Refresh entries

Executing Requests

When you select a [GET] endpoint, the browser executes the request and displays the JSON response with syntax highlighting.

The header shows:

• Request URL
• Response time in milliseconds
• Response size in bytes/KB

Result View Keys

Key	Action
↑/↓ or j/k	Scroll line by line
PgUp/PgDn	Scroll by page
g	Jump to top
G	Jump to bottom
/	Search in response
n / N	Next / previous search match
Space	Toggle fold at cursor (for JSON objects/arrays)
f	Fold all JSON sections
F	Unfold all JSON sections
s	Save response to file
Esc	Return to endpoint list

Dynamic Segments

Some endpoints require dynamic values like chain IDs or block hashes. The browser uses smart defaults:

Segment	Default
chain_id	main
block_id	head
block_hash	head

When prompted, press Enter to accept the default or type a custom value.

Switching Instances

Press Tab to cycle through available node instances. The current instance is shown in the header with its network.

Example: Checking Node Sync Status

1. Press r to open RPC Browser
2. Press 3 for quick access to /chains/main/is_bootstrapped
3. View the response showing sync status

Or navigate manually:

1. Select chains → Enter
2. Type main when prompted for chain_id → Enter
3. Select is_bootstrapped → Enter

Streaming Endpoints

Some RPC endpoints stream continuous data instead of returning a single response. These include:

• /monitor/heads/main — Stream new block headers as they’re baked
• /monitor/bootstrapped — Stream bootstrap progress
• /monitor/validated_blocks — Stream validated blocks
• /monitor/applied_operations — Stream applied operations

How Streaming Works

1. Automatic Detection — The browser detects streaming endpoints automatically based on the path
2. Live Updates — Data appears in real-time as it streams from the node
3. JSON Highlighting — Each streamed JSON object is syntax-highlighted and separated
4. Continuous — Streaming continues until you leave the page or close the pager

Example: Monitoring Block Headers

1. Press r to open RPC Browser
2. Navigate to monitor → heads → accept main for chain_id
3. Watch as new block headers appear in real-time

The pager header shows “Streaming…” while data is being received.

Stopping a Stream

• Press Esc to return to the endpoint list (stops the stream)
• Press x to close the current pager (if multiple pagers exist)

Multi-Pager Mode

The RPC browser supports up to 10 simultaneous result panes (numbered 0-9), useful for comparing responses across instances or monitoring multiple endpoints at once.

Creating Pagers

Press S (capital S) to split and create a new pager. The new pager appears next to existing ones, and you can execute a different query in each.

Pager Management Keys

Key	Action
S	Create new pager (split) — up to 10 total
Tab	Cycle focus through pagers
Ctrl-x then 0-9	Jump directly to pager N (chord: hold Ctrl, press x, release, press number)
x	Close the focused pager (cannot close the last one)
@ or t	Change target instance for the focused pager
s	Save focused pager’s response to a JSON file

Targeting Different Instances

Each pager can query a different node instance:

1. Focus a pager with Tab or Ctrl-x N
2. Press @ or t to open the instance selector
3. Choose a different node (local instance or public node)
4. Execute a query — it goes to that pager’s target

This lets you compare the same endpoint across multiple nodes side-by-side.

Layout Modes

The browser automatically adjusts layout based on terminal width:

Terminal Width	Layout
< 140 columns	Stacked — use ←/→ to switch between browser and pagers
≥ 140 columns	Side-by-side — browser tree on left, pagers on right

In side-by-side mode:

• Use ←/→ to switch focus between the browser panel and pager panel
• Multiple pagers stack vertically or in a grid depending on count

Example: Comparing Block Heights Across Nodes

1. Press r to open RPC Browser
2. Press 2 to query /chains/main/blocks/head on first node
3. Press S to create a second pager
4. Press @ and select a different node instance
5. Press 2 again to query the same endpoint
6. Compare the level field in both responses

Example: Monitoring Multiple Streams

1. Navigate to /monitor/heads/main and press Enter
2. Press S to create a second pager
3. Press @ to select a different node
4. Navigate to the same monitor endpoint
5. Watch both streams update in real-time

Tips

• Quick access shortcuts work only at the root level
• The browser remembers your position when switching instances
• Response times help identify slow endpoints
• Use Tab to compare responses across different nodes
• Use multi-pager mode (S) to compare the same endpoint across different nodes