# Arbitrum

<figure><img src="/files/HkzufNPi3UdbybymbsoW" alt="Arbitrum Logo"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Introduction

The [**Arbitrum network**](https://arbitrum.io/) is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, designed to enhance the speed and cost-efficiency of transactions while maintaining the security and decentralization of the Ethereum blockchain. It achieves this by leveraging **Optimistic Rollups**, a technology that processes transactions off-chain and posts summarized data to Ethereum for verification.

#### Key Features of Arbitrum:

1. **Layer 2 Scaling**:
   * Arbitrum processes most transactions off-chain, reducing congestion and lowering fees compared to Ethereum's mainnet.
2. **Optimistic Rollups**:
   * This approach assumes transactions are valid ("optimistically") and only runs computation on-chain if there is a challenge, enhancing efficiency.
3. **Ethereum Compatibility**:
   * Fully compatible with Ethereum smart contracts, allowing developers to migrate existing dApps to Arbitrum with minimal changes.
4. **Low Fees**:
   * By processing transactions off-chain, Arbitrum significantly reduces gas fees for users.
5. **Fast Transactions**:
   * Transactions are processed more quickly than on the Ethereum mainnet, improving user experience.
6. **Secure by Ethereum**:
   * All data and transaction proofs are ultimately secured by Ethereum's robust consensus mechanism.
7. **Arbitrum One**:
   * The flagship rollup chain under the Arbitrum ecosystem, widely used for decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFT applications.
8. **Arbitrum Nova**:
   * A separate chain optimized for gaming and social applications with high transaction throughput needs.

Arbitrum is popular among developers and users seeking cost-effective, scalable solutions while leveraging Ethereum's decentralized and secure environment.

## How to Interact

1. Get your API Key from [Forbole's RPC](https://rpc.forbole.com/).

<figure><img src="/files/zL19dK7JtSrknUMklUKh" alt="DevTools Endpoints"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. Test the query as follow:

```bash
curl https://rpc-mainnet-arbitrum-fullnode.forbole.com \
  -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "apikey: {apiKey}" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"eth_blockNumber"}'
```

**Response Example**

```json
{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 1,
    "result": "0x10c288b1"
}
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.rpc.forbole.com/rpc-api-documentation/guide-to-rpc/endpoints/rpc/arbitrum.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.