# state_getKeys

## Description

Returns storage keys with a given prefix. Because Astar staking maps can be large, use this method sparingly and follow with `state_getKeysPaged` for controlled pagination.

## Parameters

| Position       | Type   | Description                                  |
| -------------- | ------ | -------------------------------------------- |
| 0              | string | Storage key prefix in hex                    |
| 1 *(optional)* | string | Block hash                                   |
| 2 *(optional)* | number | Result limit (ignored on some node versions) |

## Request Example

Get collator session keys by prefixing `Session.NextKeys` (no account parameter).

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "state_getKeys",
  "params": [
    "0xcec5070d609dd3497f72bde07fc96ba04c014e6bf8b8c2c011e7290b85696bb3",
    null,
    5
  ],
  "id": 7
}
```

## Response Example

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 7,
  "result": [
    "0xcec5070d609dd3497f72bde07fc96ba04c014e6bf8b8c2c011e7290b85696bb30165c612f75544f29a2b2224d8a6944df8f70196c856ae141ecf1aeb3de10d54461317f2fdeae21b",
    "0xcec5070d609dd3497f72bde07fc96ba04c014e6bf8b8c2c011e7290b85696bb302a1a4c9e333badf063b6446a3e6b0781d73ea137f9c74f59918312cb7938a1f234287ea08418633",
    "…"
  ]
}
```

If a node returns `Response is too big`, switch to `state_getKeysPaged` with smaller page sizes.

## Code Examples

Python
JavaScript

```python
substrate = SubstrateInterface(url="wss://api-astar.n.dwellir.com/YOUR_API_KEY", ss58_format=5)
prefix = substrate.generate_storage_hash('Session', 'NextKeys')
keys = substrate.rpc_request('state_getKeys', [prefix, None, 5])['result']
print(keys[:3])
```

```typescript
const prefix = api.query.session.nextKeys.keyPrefix();
const keys = await api.rpc.state.getKeys(prefix.toHex());
console.log(`Returned ${keys.length} keys`);
```