A Bitcoin block explorer is a search engine for the blockchain. Learn what every field on a block, transaction and address page means, step by step.
A search engine for Bitcoin
A block explorer reads data from a Bitcoin node and shows it as web pages. Paste a block height, block hash, txid or address into the search.
A block page
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Height | Position in the chain. See Block height |
| Hash | The block's unique ID |
| Timestamp | Set by the miner, roughly accurate. See Block timestamps |
| Transactions | How many it contains; the first is the The coinbase transaction |
| Size / weight | How much block space it used. See Block size and the weight limit |
| Confirmations | How many blocks have been built on top |
A transaction page
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| txid | Its unique ID. See Transaction IDs (txid) |
| Inputs | The previous outputs being spent |
| Outputs | Amounts and destinations being created |
| Fee and fee rate | Inputs minus outputs, and sats per vbyte |
| Status | Unconfirmed, or the number of confirmations |
Not shown, because it can't be known
- Who owns an address.
- Which output is change.
- Which input paid which output inside one transaction.
Good explorers say so instead of guessing. See What a Bitcoin trace can and can't prove.
Trust
An explorer shows you what its node sees. Running your own node, or using an explorer that runs its own (like MyBitcoinExplorer), avoids relying on someone else's database.
Try it now on MyBitcoinExplorer
- Open the latest blocks and click the newest one.
- Note its height, transaction count and how full it is.
- Click its first transaction: that's the coinbase paying the miner.
- Go back and click any other transaction: read its inputs, outputs and fee.
- Paste that transaction's txid into the search to find it again.
Explorer vs wallet
A wallet shows only your own coins. An explorer shows everyone's public data, with no keys involved and no way to move funds. Use it to check payments independently.
Key takeaways
- Explorers turn node data into readable pages for blocks, transactions and addresses.
- Fee, confirmations and amounts are facts; ownership and change are not.
- An explorer is only as trustworthy as the node behind it.
Common questions
Is it safe to look up my address in an explorer?
It's public data, but the explorer can see that you looked. Using your own node is more private.
Why do two explorers show different times?
Some show the block's timestamp; others show when their node first saw it.
Is a block explorer safe to use?
Yes. It only reads public data; it never needs your keys or seed.
Why use MyBitcoinExplorer instead of another explorer?
Our pages come from our own Bitcoin Core node and index, with no third-party data, and every lesson links to real examples.