web3.eth.accounts

The web3.eth.accounts contains functions to generate Ethereum accounts and sign transactions and data.

Note

This package has NOT been audited and might potentially be unsafe. Take precautions to clear memory properly, store the private keys safely, and test transaction receiving and sending functionality properly before using in production!

To use this package standalone use:

var Accounts = require('web3-eth-accounts');

// Passing in the eth or web3 package is necessary to allow retrieving chainId, gasPrice and nonce automatically
// for accounts.signTransaction().
var accounts = new Accounts('ws://localhost:8546');

create

web3.eth.accounts.create([entropy]);

Generates an account object with private key and public key.

Parameters

  1. entropy - String (optional): A random string to increase entropy. If given it should be at least 32 characters. If none is given a random string will be generated using randomhex.

Returns

Object - The account object with the following structure:

  • address - string: The account address.
  • privateKey - string: The accounts private key. This should never be shared or stored unencrypted in localstorage! Also make sure to null the memory after usage.
  • signTransaction(tx [, callback]) - Function: The function to sign transactions. See web3.eth.accounts.signTransaction() for more.
  • sign(data) - Function: The function to sign transactions. See web3.eth.accounts.sign() for more.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.create();
> {
    address: "0xb8CE9ab6943e0eCED004cDe8e3bBed6568B2Fa01",
    privateKey: "0x348ce564d427a3311b6536bbcff9390d69395b06ed6c486954e971d960fe8709",
    signTransaction: function(tx){...},
    sign: function(data){...},
    encrypt: function(password){...}
}

web3.eth.accounts.create('2435@#@#@±±±±!!!!678543213456764321§34567543213456785432134567');
> {
    address: "0xF2CD2AA0c7926743B1D4310b2BC984a0a453c3d4",
    privateKey: "0xd7325de5c2c1cf0009fac77d3d04a9c004b038883446b065871bc3e831dcd098",
    signTransaction: function(tx){...},
    sign: function(data){...},
    encrypt: function(password){...}
}

web3.eth.accounts.create(web3.utils.randomHex(32));
> {
    address: "0xe78150FaCD36E8EB00291e251424a0515AA1FF05",
    privateKey: "0xcc505ee6067fba3f6fc2050643379e190e087aeffe5d958ab9f2f3ed3800fa4e",
    signTransaction: function(tx){...},
    sign: function(data){...},
    encrypt: function(password){...}
}

privateKeyToAccount

web3.eth.accounts.privateKeyToAccount(privateKey [, ignoreLength ]);

Creates an account object from a private key.

For more advanced hierarchial address derivation, see [truffle-hd-awallet-provider](https://github.com/trufflesuite/truffle/tree/develop/packages/hdwallet-provider) package.

Parameters

1. privateKey - String: The private key to import. This is 32 bytes of random data. If you are supplying a hexadecimal number, it must have 0x prefix in order to be in line with other Ethereum libraries. 2. ignoreLength - Boolean: If set to true does the privateKey length not get validated.

Returns

Object - The account object with the structure seen here.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.privateKeyToAccount('0x348ce564d427a3311b6536bbcff9390d69395b06ed6c486954e971d960fe8709');
> {
    address: '0xb8CE9ab6943e0eCED004cDe8e3bBed6568B2Fa01',
    privateKey: '0x348ce564d427a3311b6536bbcff9390d69395b06ed6c486954e971d960fe8709',
    signTransaction: function(tx){...},
    sign: function(data){...},
    encrypt: function(password){...}
}

signTransaction

web3.eth.accounts.signTransaction(tx, privateKey [, callback]);

Signs an Ethereum transaction with a given private key.

Parameters

  1. tx - Object: The transaction object as follows:
    • nonce - String: (optional) The nonce to use when signing this transaction. Default will use web3.eth.getTransactionCount().
    • chainId - String: (optional) The chain id to use when signing this transaction. Default will use web3.eth.net.getId().
    • to - String: (optional) The recevier of the transaction, can be empty when deploying a contract.
    • data - String: (optional) The call data of the transaction, can be empty for simple value transfers.
    • value - String: (optional) The value of the transaction in wei.
    • gasPrice - String: (optional) The gas price set by this transaction, if empty, it will use web3.eth.getGasPrice()
    • gas - String: The gas provided by the transaction.
    • chain - String: (optional) Defaults to mainnet.
    • hardfork - String: (optional) Defaults to petersburg.
    • common - Object: (optional) The common object
      • customChain - Object: The custom chain properties
        • name - string: (optional) The name of the chain
        • networkId - number: Network ID of the custom chain
        • chainId - number: Chain ID of the custom chain
      • baseChain - string: (optional) mainnet, goerli, kovan, rinkeby, or ropsten
      • hardfork - string: (optional) chainstart, homestead, dao, tangerineWhistle, spuriousDragon, byzantium, constantinople, petersburg, or istanbul
  2. privateKey - String: The private key to sign with.
  3. callback - Function: (optional) Optional callback, returns an error object as first parameter and the result as second.

Returns

Promise returning Object: The signed data RLP encoded transaction, or if returnSignature is true the signature values as follows:
  • messageHash - String: The hash of the given message.
  • r - String: First 32 bytes of the signature
  • s - String: Next 32 bytes of the signature
  • v - String: Recovery value + 27
  • rawTransaction - String: The RLP encoded transaction, ready to be send using web3.eth.sendSignedTransaction.
  • transactionHash - String: The transaction hash for the RLP encoded transaction.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.signTransaction({
    to: '0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55',
    value: '1000000000',
    gas: 2000000
}, '0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318')
.then(console.log);
> {
    messageHash: '0x31c2f03766b36f0346a850e78d4f7db2d9f4d7d54d5f272a750ba44271e370b1',
    v: '0x25',
    r: '0xc9cf86333bcb065d140032ecaab5d9281bde80f21b9687b3e94161de42d51895',
    s: '0x727a108a0b8d101465414033c3f705a9c7b826e596766046ee1183dbc8aeaa68',
    rawTransaction: '0xf869808504e3b29200831e848094f0109fc8df283027b6285cc889f5aa624eac1f55843b9aca008025a0c9cf86333bcb065d140032ecaab5d9281bde80f21b9687b3e94161de42d51895a0727a108a0b8d101465414033c3f705a9c7b826e596766046ee1183dbc8aeaa68'
    transactionHash: '0xde8db924885b0803d2edc335f745b2b8750c8848744905684c20b987443a9593'
}

web3.eth.accounts.signTransaction({
    to: '0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55',
    value: '1000000000',
    gas: 2000000,
    gasPrice: '234567897654321',
    nonce: 0,
    chainId: 1
}, '0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318')
.then(console.log);
> {
    messageHash: '0x6893a6ee8df79b0f5d64a180cd1ef35d030f3e296a5361cf04d02ce720d32ec5',
    r: '0x9ebb6ca057a0535d6186462bc0b465b561c94a295bdb0621fc19208ab149a9c',
    s: '0x440ffd775ce91a833ab410777204d5341a6f9fa91216a6f3ee2c051fea6a0428',
    v: '0x25',
    rawTransaction: '0xf86a8086d55698372431831e848094f0109fc8df283027b6285cc889f5aa624eac1f55843b9aca008025a009ebb6ca057a0535d6186462bc0b465b561c94a295bdb0621fc19208ab149a9ca0440ffd775ce91a833ab410777204d5341a6f9fa91216a6f3ee2c051fea6a0428'
    transactionHash: '0xd8f64a42b57be0d565f385378db2f6bf324ce14a594afc05de90436e9ce01f60'
}

// or with a common
web3.eth.accounts.signTransaction({
    to: '0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55',
    value: '1000000000',
    gas: 2000000
    common: {
      baseChain: 'mainnet',
      hardfork: 'petersburg',
      customChain: {
        name: 'custom-chain',
        chainId: 1,
        networkId: 1
      }
    }
}, '0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318')
.then(console.log);

recoverTransaction

web3.eth.accounts.recoverTransaction(rawTransaction);

Recovers the Ethereum address which was used to sign the given RLP encoded transaction.

Parameters

  1. signature - String: The RLP encoded transaction.

Returns

String: The Ethereum address used to sign this transaction.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.recoverTransaction('0xf86180808401ef364594f0109fc8df283027b6285cc889f5aa624eac1f5580801ca031573280d608f75137e33fc14655f097867d691d5c4c44ebe5ae186070ac3d5ea0524410802cdc025034daefcdfa08e7d2ee3f0b9d9ae184b2001fe0aff07603d9');
> "0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55"

hashMessage

web3.eth.accounts.hashMessage(message);

Hashes the given message to be passed web3.eth.accounts.recover() function. The data will be UTF-8 HEX decoded and enveloped as follows: "\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n" + message.length + message and hashed using keccak256.

Parameters

  1. message - String: A message to hash, if its HEX it will be UTF8 decoded before.

Returns

String: The hashed message

Example

web3.eth.accounts.hashMessage("Hello World")
> "0xa1de988600a42c4b4ab089b619297c17d53cffae5d5120d82d8a92d0bb3b78f2"

// the below results in the same hash
web3.eth.accounts.hashMessage(web3.utils.utf8ToHex("Hello World"))
> "0xa1de988600a42c4b4ab089b619297c17d53cffae5d5120d82d8a92d0bb3b78f2"

sign

web3.eth.accounts.sign(data, privateKey);

Signs arbitrary data.

Parameters

  1. data - String: The data to sign.
  2. privateKey - String: The private key to sign with.

Note

The value passed as the data parameter will be UTF-8 HEX decoded and wrapped as follows: "\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n" + message.length + message.

Returns

Object: The signature object
  • message - String: The the given message.
  • messageHash - String: The hash of the given message.
  • r - String: First 32 bytes of the signature
  • s - String: Next 32 bytes of the signature
  • v - String: Recovery value + 27

Example

web3.eth.accounts.sign('Some data', '0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318');
> {
    message: 'Some data',
    messageHash: '0x1da44b586eb0729ff70a73c326926f6ed5a25f5b056e7f47fbc6e58d86871655',
    v: '0x1c',
    r: '0xb91467e570a6466aa9e9876cbcd013baba02900b8979d43fe208a4a4f339f5fd',
    s: '0x6007e74cd82e037b800186422fc2da167c747ef045e5d18a5f5d4300f8e1a029',
    signature: '0xb91467e570a6466aa9e9876cbcd013baba02900b8979d43fe208a4a4f339f5fd6007e74cd82e037b800186422fc2da167c747ef045e5d18a5f5d4300f8e1a0291c'
}

recover

web3.eth.accounts.recover(signatureObject);
web3.eth.accounts.recover(message, signature [, preFixed]);
web3.eth.accounts.recover(message, v, r, s [, preFixed]);

Recovers the Ethereum address which was used to sign the given data.

Parameters

  1. message|signatureObject - String|Object: Either signed message or hash, or the signature object as following values:
    • messageHash - String: The hash of the given message already prefixed with "\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n" + message.length + message.
    • r - String: First 32 bytes of the signature
    • s - String: Next 32 bytes of the signature
    • v - String: Recovery value + 27
  2. signature - String: The raw RLP encoded signature, OR parameter 2-4 as v, r, s values.
  3. preFixed - Boolean (optional, default: false): If the last parameter is true, the given message will NOT automatically be prefixed with "\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n" + message.length + message, and assumed to be already prefixed.

Returns

String: The Ethereum address used to sign this data.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.recover({
    messageHash: '0x1da44b586eb0729ff70a73c326926f6ed5a25f5b056e7f47fbc6e58d86871655',
    v: '0x1c',
    r: '0xb91467e570a6466aa9e9876cbcd013baba02900b8979d43fe208a4a4f339f5fd',
    s: '0x6007e74cd82e037b800186422fc2da167c747ef045e5d18a5f5d4300f8e1a029'
})
> "0x2c7536E3605D9C16a7a3D7b1898e529396a65c23"

// message, signature
web3.eth.accounts.recover('Some data', '0xb91467e570a6466aa9e9876cbcd013baba02900b8979d43fe208a4a4f339f5fd6007e74cd82e037b800186422fc2da167c747ef045e5d18a5f5d4300f8e1a0291c');
> "0x2c7536E3605D9C16a7a3D7b1898e529396a65c23"

// message, v, r, s
web3.eth.accounts.recover('Some data', '0x1c', '0xb91467e570a6466aa9e9876cbcd013baba02900b8979d43fe208a4a4f339f5fd', '0x6007e74cd82e037b800186422fc2da167c747ef045e5d18a5f5d4300f8e1a029');
> "0x2c7536E3605D9C16a7a3D7b1898e529396a65c23"

encrypt

web3.eth.accounts.encrypt(privateKey, password);

Encrypts a private key to the web3 keystore v3 standard.

Parameters

  1. privateKey - String: The private key to encrypt.
  2. password - String: The password used for encryption.

Returns

Object: The encrypted keystore v3 JSON.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.encrypt('0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318', 'test!')
> {
    version: 3,
    id: '04e9bcbb-96fa-497b-94d1-14df4cd20af6',
    address: '2c7536e3605d9c16a7a3d7b1898e529396a65c23',
    crypto: {
        ciphertext: 'a1c25da3ecde4e6a24f3697251dd15d6208520efc84ad97397e906e6df24d251',
        cipherparams: { iv: '2885df2b63f7ef247d753c82fa20038a' },
        cipher: 'aes-128-ctr',
        kdf: 'scrypt',
        kdfparams: {
            dklen: 32,
            salt: '4531b3c174cc3ff32a6a7a85d6761b410db674807b2d216d022318ceee50be10',
            n: 262144,
            r: 8,
            p: 1
        },
        mac: 'b8b010fff37f9ae5559a352a185e86f9b9c1d7f7a9f1bd4e82a5dd35468fc7f6'
    }
}

decrypt

web3.eth.accounts.decrypt(keystoreJsonV3, password);

Decrypts a keystore v3 JSON, and creates the account.

Parameters

  1. encryptedPrivateKey - String: The encrypted private key to decrypt.
  2. password - String: The password used for encryption.

Returns

Object: The decrypted account.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.decrypt({
    version: 3,
    id: '04e9bcbb-96fa-497b-94d1-14df4cd20af6',
    address: '2c7536e3605d9c16a7a3d7b1898e529396a65c23',
    crypto: {
        ciphertext: 'a1c25da3ecde4e6a24f3697251dd15d6208520efc84ad97397e906e6df24d251',
        cipherparams: { iv: '2885df2b63f7ef247d753c82fa20038a' },
        cipher: 'aes-128-ctr',
        kdf: 'scrypt',
        kdfparams: {
            dklen: 32,
            salt: '4531b3c174cc3ff32a6a7a85d6761b410db674807b2d216d022318ceee50be10',
            n: 262144,
            r: 8,
            p: 1
        },
        mac: 'b8b010fff37f9ae5559a352a185e86f9b9c1d7f7a9f1bd4e82a5dd35468fc7f6'
    }
}, 'test!');
> {
    address: "0x2c7536E3605D9C16a7a3D7b1898e529396a65c23",
    privateKey: "0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318",
    signTransaction: function(tx){...},
    sign: function(data){...},
    encrypt: function(password){...}
}

wallet

web3.eth.accounts.wallet;

Contains an in memory wallet with multiple accounts. These accounts can be used when using web3.eth.sendTransaction().

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet;
> Wallet {
    0: {...}, // account by index
    "0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55": {...},  // same account by address
    "0xf0109fc8df283027b6285cc889f5aa624eac1f55": {...},  // same account by address lowercase
    1: {...},
    "0xD0122fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1d23": {...},
    "0xd0122fc8df283027b6285cc889f5aa624eac1d23": {...},

    add: function(){},
    remove: function(){},
    save: function(){},
    load: function(){},
    clear: function(){},

    length: 2,
}

wallet.create

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.create(numberOfAccounts [, entropy]);

Generates one or more accounts in the wallet. If wallets already exist they will not be overridden.

Parameters

  1. numberOfAccounts - Number: Number of accounts to create. Leave empty to create an empty wallet.
  2. entropy - String (optional): A string with random characters as additional entropy when generating accounts. If given it should be at least 32 characters.

Returns

Object: The wallet object.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.create(2, '54674321§3456764321§345674321§3453647544±±±§±±±!!!43534534534534');
> Wallet {
    0: {...},
    "0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55": {...},
    "0xf0109fc8df283027b6285cc889f5aa624eac1f55": {...},
    ...
}

wallet.add

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.add(account);

Adds an account using a private key or account object to the wallet.

Parameters

  1. account - String|Object: A private key or account object created with web3.eth.accounts.create().

Returns

Object: The added account.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.add('0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318');
> {
    index: 0,
    address: '0x2c7536E3605D9C16a7a3D7b1898e529396a65c23',
    privateKey: '0x4c0883a69102937d6231471b5dbb6204fe5129617082792ae468d01a3f362318',
    signTransaction: function(tx){...},
    sign: function(data){...},
    encrypt: function(password){...}
}

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.add({
    privateKey: '0x348ce564d427a3311b6536bbcff9390d69395b06ed6c486954e971d960fe8709',
    address: '0xb8CE9ab6943e0eCED004cDe8e3bBed6568B2Fa01'
});
> {
    index: 0,
    address: '0xb8CE9ab6943e0eCED004cDe8e3bBed6568B2Fa01',
    privateKey: '0x348ce564d427a3311b6536bbcff9390d69395b06ed6c486954e971d960fe8709',
    signTransaction: function(tx){...},
    sign: function(data){...},
    encrypt: function(password){...}
}

wallet.remove

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.remove(account);

Removes an account from the wallet.

Parameters

  1. account - String|Number: The account address, or index in the wallet.

Returns

Boolean: true if the wallet was removed. false if it couldn’t be found.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet;
> Wallet {
    0: {...},
    "0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55": {...}
    1: {...},
    "0xb8CE9ab6943e0eCED004cDe8e3bBed6568B2Fa01": {...}
    ...
}

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.remove('0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55');
> true

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.remove(3);
> false

wallet.clear

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.clear();

Securely empties the wallet and removes all its accounts.

Parameters

none

Returns

Object: The wallet object.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.clear();
> Wallet {
    add: function(){},
    remove: function(){},
    save: function(){},
    load: function(){},
    clear: function(){},

    length: 0
}

wallet.encrypt

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.encrypt(password);

Encrypts all wallet accounts to an array of encrypted keystore v3 objects.

Parameters

  1. password - String: The password which will be used for encryption.

Returns

Array: The encrypted keystore v3.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.encrypt('test');
> [ { version: 3,
    id: 'dcf8ab05-a314-4e37-b972-bf9b86f91372',
    address: '06f702337909c06c82b09b7a22f0a2f0855d1f68',
    crypto:
     { ciphertext: '0de804dc63940820f6b3334e5a4bfc8214e27fb30bb7e9b7b74b25cd7eb5c604',
       cipherparams: [Object],
       cipher: 'aes-128-ctr',
       kdf: 'scrypt',
       kdfparams: [Object],
       mac: 'b2aac1485bd6ee1928665642bf8eae9ddfbc039c3a673658933d320bac6952e3' } },
  { version: 3,
    id: '9e1c7d24-b919-4428-b10e-0f3ef79f7cf0',
    address: 'b5d89661b59a9af0b34f58d19138baa2de48baaf',
    crypto:
     { ciphertext: 'd705ebed2a136d9e4db7e5ae70ed1f69d6a57370d5fbe06281eb07615f404410',
       cipherparams: [Object],
       cipher: 'aes-128-ctr',
       kdf: 'scrypt',
       kdfparams: [Object],
       mac: 'af9eca5eb01b0f70e909f824f0e7cdb90c350a802f04a9f6afe056602b92272b' } }
]

wallet.decrypt

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.decrypt(keystoreArray, password);

Decrypts keystore v3 objects.

Parameters

  1. keystoreArray - Array: The encrypted keystore v3 objects to decrypt.
  2. password - String: The password which will be used for encryption.

Returns

Object: The wallet object.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.decrypt([
  { version: 3,
  id: '83191a81-aaca-451f-b63d-0c5f3b849289',
  address: '06f702337909c06c82b09b7a22f0a2f0855d1f68',
  crypto:
   { ciphertext: '7d34deae112841fba86e3e6cf08f5398dda323a8e4d29332621534e2c4069e8d',
     cipherparams: { iv: '497f4d26997a84d570778eae874b2333' },
     cipher: 'aes-128-ctr',
     kdf: 'scrypt',
     kdfparams:
      { dklen: 32,
        salt: '208dd732a27aa4803bb760228dff18515d5313fd085bbce60594a3919ae2d88d',
        n: 262144,
        r: 8,
        p: 1 },
     mac: '0062a853de302513c57bfe3108ab493733034bf3cb313326f42cf26ea2619cf9' } },
   { version: 3,
  id: '7d6b91fa-3611-407b-b16b-396efb28f97e',
  address: 'b5d89661b59a9af0b34f58d19138baa2de48baaf',
  crypto:
   { ciphertext: 'cb9712d1982ff89f571fa5dbef447f14b7e5f142232bd2a913aac833730eeb43',
     cipherparams: { iv: '8cccb91cb84e435437f7282ec2ffd2db' },
     cipher: 'aes-128-ctr',
     kdf: 'scrypt',
     kdfparams:
      { dklen: 32,
        salt: '08ba6736363c5586434cd5b895e6fe41ea7db4785bd9b901dedce77a1514e8b8',
        n: 262144,
        r: 8,
        p: 1 },
     mac: 'd2eb068b37e2df55f56fa97a2bf4f55e072bef0dd703bfd917717d9dc54510f0' } }
], 'test');
> Wallet {
    0: {...},
    1: {...},
    "0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55": {...},
    "0xD0122fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1d23": {...}
    ...
}

wallet.save

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.save(password [, keyName]);

Stores the wallet encrypted and as string in local storage.

Note

Browser only.

Parameters

  1. password - String: The password to encrypt the wallet.
  2. keyName - String: (optional) The key used for the local storage position, defaults to "web3js_wallet".

Returns

Boolean

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.save('test#!$');
> true

wallet.load

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.load(password [, keyName]);

Loads a wallet from local storage and decrypts it.

Note

Browser only.

Parameters

  1. password - String: The password to decrypt the wallet.
  2. keyName - String: (optional) The key used for the localstorage position, defaults to "web3js_wallet".

Returns

Object: The wallet object.

Example

web3.eth.accounts.wallet.load('test#!$', 'myWalletKey');
> Wallet {
    0: {...},
    1: {...},
    "0xF0109fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1F55": {...},
    "0xD0122fC8DF283027b6285cc889F5aA624EaC1d23": {...}
    ...
}