getBlocks

The getBlocks method returns a list of confirmed blocks between two specified slot numbers. This method is essential for applications that need to process blockchain data sequentially, implement block scanning functionality, or build comprehensive blockchain indexers.

Unlike fetching individual blocks, this method provides an efficient way to discover which slots actually contain blocks within a range. This is important because Solana slots can be skipped when validators fail to produce blocks, so not every slot number corresponds to an actual block. By using this method, applications can iterate through blocks without attempting to fetch non-existent blocks from skipped slots.

This method is commonly used by blockchain explorers, data indexers, and analytics platforms that need to process historical blockchain data. It's particularly valuable for backfilling data, detecting gaps in local storage, or implementing efficient block synchronization mechanisms. The method supports large ranges but may have practical limits imposed by RPC providers to prevent excessive resource consumption.

Parameters

parameter	type	description
startSlot	number	The start slot, inclusive (u64)
endSlot	number	The end slot, inclusive. Must be no more than 500,000 slots higher than startSlot (optional, defaults to latest confirmed slot)
config	object	Optional configuration object
config.commitment	string	Level of commitment: 'confirmed' or 'finalized' (default: 'finalized'). 'processed' is not supported

Return Object

field	type	description
result	array	Array of slot numbers (u64) representing confirmed blocks in the specified range, sorted in ascending order

Request Example

Request

Response Example

Response

Tip: Notice that some slot numbers may be missing from the result (e.g., 234567893, 234567896, 234567901) indicating skipped slots. The maximum range is typically 500,000 slots. For larger ranges, make multiple requests. Use getBlocksWithLimit if you need a specific number of blocks rather than a range.