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debug_traceTransaction - Polygon RPC Method

Trace a transaction execution on Polygon. Requires archive node for debugging enterprise solutions (Starbucks, Disney, Reddit), gaming, DeFi, and stablecoin payments.

Traces a transaction execution on Polygon by transaction hash.

Archive Node Required

This method requires an archive node. It is not available on full nodes.

When to Use This Method

  • Analyze transaction execution step-by-step - Trace every opcode and internal call in a completed transaction for enterprise solutions (Starbucks, Disney, Reddit), gaming, DeFi, and stablecoin payments
  • Debug failed transactions - Pinpoint the exact opcode and call depth where a transaction reverted on Polygon
  • Examine internal call traces - Follow the full call tree including delegate calls and contract creations
  • Gas usage profiling - Measure gas consumption per opcode to identify optimization opportunities

Best Practices

  • Requires archive node access; not available on standard full nodes
  • Traces can be very large for complex transactions with many internal calls
  • Use tracer options like onlyTopCall or callTracer to limit output size
  • Store traces off-chain for analysis rather than querying repeatedly

Tracer Options

  • {} - Default opcode tracer (verbose)
  • { tracer: "callTracer" } - Call tree tracer
  • { tracer: "prestateTracer" } - Pre-state tracer

Code Examples