trace_transaction - Ethereum RPC Method

Returns all traces for a specific transaction on Ethereum.

When to Use This Method

• Get parity-style transaction trace - Retrieve the full trace of all internal calls, state changes, and value transfers for DeFi protocols (60% market share), NFT marketplaces, DAOs, and enterprise dApps
• Analyze internal calls and state changes - See every sub-call, delegate call, and contract creation triggered by a transaction on Ethereum
• Audit transaction execution paths - Follow the exact flow of execution through contracts to verify correctness
• Track value flows - Trace how funds move through multiple contracts in a single transaction

Best Practices

• Parity-style traces are more detailed than the debug namespace equivalent
• Use trace_replayTransaction for combined trace, vmTrace, and stateDiff output
• Results include both stateDiff and vmTrace sections for comprehensive analysis
• Requires archive node access; not available on standard full nodes

Response Body

Response

Code Examples

Related Methods

• trace_get - Get a specific trace by index
• trace_block - Get all traces in a block
• trace_filter - Filter traces by criteria