system_properties - JSON-RPC Method

Description#

Returns the chain properties including token decimals, token symbol(s), and SS58 address format. This JSON-RPC method provides essential configuration information needed for properly formatting addresses and token amounts in applications.

Parameters#

This method does not require any parameters.

Returns#

Field	Type	Description
`ss58Format`	number	SS58 address format for this chain
`tokenDecimals`	array	Array of token decimal places
`tokenSymbol`	array	Array of token symbols

Request Example#

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "system_properties",
  "params": [],
  "id": 1
}

Response Example (Acala)#

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "result": {
    "ss58Format": 10,
    "tokenDecimals": [12, 12, 10, 10],
    "tokenSymbol": ["ACA", "AUSD", "DOT", "LDOT"]
  },
  "id": 1
}

Code Examples#

Python
JavaScript
TypeScript (@polkadot/api)

import requests
import json
from decimal import Decimal

def get_system_properties():
    url = "https://api-acala.n.dwellir.com/YOUR_API_KEY"
    headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json"}
    payload = {"jsonrpc": "2.0", "method": "system_properties", "params": [], "id": 1}
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=json.dumps(payload))
    return response.json()["result"]

properties = get_system_properties()
decimals = properties["tokenDecimals"][0]
symbol = properties["tokenSymbol"][0]
ss58_format = properties["ss58Format"]

print(f"Primary token: {symbol}")
print(f"Decimals: {decimals}")
print(f"SS58 Format: {ss58_format}")

class TokenFormatter:
    def __init__(self, decimals, symbol):
        self.decimals = decimals
        self.symbol = symbol
        self.unit = Decimal(10) ** decimals
    def format_amount(self, raw_amount):
        amount = Decimal(raw_amount) / self.unit
        return f"{amount:.4f} {self.symbol}"
    def to_raw(self, amount):
        return int(Decimal(amount) * self.unit)

formatter = TokenFormatter(decimals, symbol)
print(formatter.format_amount(1000000000000))

const getChainProperties = async () => {
  const response = await fetch('https://api-acala.n.dwellir.com/YOUR_API_KEY', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({ jsonrpc: '2.0', method: 'system_properties', params: [], id: 1 })
  });
  const data = await response.json();
  return data.result;
};

const properties = await getChainProperties();
const decimals = properties.tokenDecimals[0];
const symbol = properties.tokenSymbol[0];
const ss58Format = properties.ss58Format;
console.log(`Chain uses ${symbol} with ${decimals} decimals (SS58 ${ss58Format})`);

import { ApiPromise, WsProvider } from '@polkadot/api';
import { formatBalance } from '@polkadot/util';

const api = await ApiPromise.create({ provider: new WsProvider('wss://api-acala.n.dwellir.com/YOUR_API_KEY') });
const properties = await api.rpc.system.properties();
const ss58Format = properties.ss58Format.unwrapOr(10);
const tokenDecimals = properties.tokenDecimals.unwrapOr([12]);
const tokenSymbol = properties.tokenSymbol.unwrapOr(['ACA']);
formatBalance.setDefaults({ decimals: tokenDecimals.map(d => d.toNumber()), unit: tokenSymbol.map(s => s.toString()) });