> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chainstack.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# eth_blockNumber | Fantom

> Fantom API method that returns the latest block number of the blockchain. Call eth_blockNumber on Fantom through Chainstack nodes.

Fantom API method that returns the latest block number of the blockchain. A block number is a hexadecimal number representing the block's position in the blockchain. For example, the block number `0x69B5B` means that the block is the 432,987th block in the blockchain.

<Check>
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## Parameters

* `none`

## Response

* `result` — the integer value of the node's latest block number is synced to and encoded as hexadecimal. The block number is used to identify the block's position in the blockchain and is updated every time a new block is added to the chain.

<Note>
  Use the [Chainstack EVM Swiss Knife to convert hexadecimal to decimal](https://web3tools.chainstacklabs.com/hexadecimal-decimal).
</Note>

## `eth_blockNumber` code examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```javascript web3.js theme={"system"}
  const { Web3 } = require("web3");
  const NODE_URL = "CHAINSTACK_NODE_URL";
  const web3 = new Web3(NODE_URL);

  async function getLatestBlockNumber() {
    const block = await web3.eth.getBlockNumber();
    console.log(`Latest block: ${block}`);
  }
    
  getLatestBlockNumber()
  ```

  ```javascript ethers.js theme={"system"}
  const ethers = require('ethers');
  const NODE_URL = "NODE_URL";
  const provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider(NODE_URL);

  const eth_getBlockNumber = async () => {
      const block_Number = await provider.getBlockNumber();
      console.log(block_Number);
    };

  eth_getBlockNumber();
  ```

  ```python web3.py theme={"system"}
  from web3 import Web3

  node_url = "CHAINSTACK_NODE_URL"

  web3 = Web3(Web3.HTTPProvider(node_url))
  print (web3.eth.block_number)
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Use case

A possible use case for the `eth_blockNumber` method in Fantom is for applications that need to be aware of the current block number—some applications may need to be mindful of the current block number to function correctly. For example, a DApp may use the current block number to determine the expiration date of a time-limited offer.


## OpenAPI

````yaml /openapi/fantom_node_api/eth_blockNumber.json POST /4ab982aa70a7baead515ffdb5915df3f
openapi: 3.0.0
info:
  title: Fantom Node API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: This is an API for interacting with a Fantom node.
servers:
  - url: https://fantom-mainnet.core.chainstack.com
security: []
paths:
  /4ab982aa70a7baead515ffdb5915df3f:
    post:
      tags:
        - Blocks info
      summary: eth_blockNumber
      operationId: eth_blockNumber
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              properties:
                id:
                  type: integer
                  default: 1
                jsonrpc:
                  type: string
                  default: '2.0'
                method:
                  type: string
                  default: eth_blockNumber
                params:
                  type: array
                  default: []
      responses:
        '200':
          description: The latest block number.
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                type: object
                properties:
                  jsonrpc:
                    type: string
                  id:
                    type: integer
                  result:
                    type: object

````