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

# Chain

> Ethereum chain configuration with network metadata

<Card title="Try it Live" icon="play" href="https://playground.tevm.sh?example=primitives/chain.ts">
  Run Chain examples in the interactive playground
</Card>

# Chain

Ethereum chain configuration objects with network metadata, RPC endpoints, and explorer information.

<Tip title="New to chain IDs?">
  Learn about chain IDs, replay attack prevention, and network identification in the [Fundamentals guide](/primitives/chain/fundamentals).
</Tip>

## Overview

[Branded](/getting-started/branded-types) type representing Ethereum chain configurations. Provides chain constants, metadata, and lookup utilities for Ethereum networks. Zero-overhead design supports both tree-shakeable namespace methods and class instances.

## Quick Start

<Tabs />

## Types

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="class Chain">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    class Chain {
      // Constructors (→ /primitives/chain/constructors)
      static from(chain: Chain): Chain
      static fromId(id: number): Chain | undefined

      // Lookup (→ /primitives/chain/chain-lookup)
      static byId: Record<number, Chain>
    }
    ```

    Source: [Chain.js:14-36](https://github.com/evmts/voltaire/blob/main/src/primitives/Chain/Chain.js#L14-L36)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="type Chain">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    export interface Chain {
      name: string
      chain: string
      chainId: number
      networkId?: number
      shortName: string
      rpc: string[]
      nativeCurrency: NativeCurrency
      infoURL?: string
      explorers?: Explorer[]
      [key: string]: any
    }

    export interface NativeCurrency {
      name: string
      symbol: string
      decimals: number
      [key: string]: any
    }

    export interface Explorer {
      name: string
      url: string
      standard?: string
      [key: string]: any
    }
    ```

    Chain configuration object extending from [@tevm/chains](https://github.com/evmts/voltaire-monorepo/tree/main/packages/chains). Provides complete chain metadata including network name, chain ID, RPC endpoints, native currency details, and block explorer URLs.

    Source: [ChainType.ts:1](https://github.com/evmts/voltaire/blob/main/src/primitives/Chain/ChainType.ts#L1)
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Chain Constants

Chain objects imported from [@tevm/chains](https://github.com/evmts/voltaire-monorepo/tree/main/packages/chains):

```typescript theme={null}
import {
  // Mainnets
  flr14,
  quai9,
  injective1776,
  ronin2020,
  moca2288,

  // Popular networks (via chain ID)
  // Use Chain.fromId(id) or Chain.byId[id]
} from '@tevm/chains'

// Access chain metadata
console.log(quai9.name)          // "Quai Mainnet"
console.log(quai9.chainId)       // 9
console.log(quai9.nativeCurrency.symbol) // "QUAI"

// Use with Chain constructor
const chain = Chain(quai9)
```

**Available constants:**

* 800+ chain configurations from @tevm/chains
* Includes testnets, mainnets, L2s, and sidechains
* Each constant includes full metadata (RPC, explorer, currency)

See [@tevm/chains documentation](https://github.com/evmts/voltaire-monorepo/tree/main/packages/chains) for complete list.

## API Methods

### Core Operations

* [fundamentals](fundamentals) - Learn chain IDs, replay attack prevention, and network identification
* [constructors](constructors) - Create Chain instances from chain objects and chain IDs
* [chain-lookup](chain-lookup) - Look up chains by ID using fromId() and byId record
* [metadata](metadata) - Access chain properties: name, chainId, RPC, explorers, currency

### Advanced Features

* [branded-chain](branded-chain) - Tree-shakeable functional API for minimal bundle size
* [network-comparison](network-comparison) - Compare gas fees, costs, and characteristics across networks

<Tip title="Chain objects are plain JavaScript objects">
  Chain is a lightweight wrapper around plain JavaScript objects from @tevm/chains. The Chain class adds prototype methods while keeping the underlying data structure simple and serializable.
</Tip>

## Related Types

* [Chain (Effect)](https://voltaire-effect.tevm.sh/primitives/chain) - Effect.ts integration with Schema validation

### Address

Ethereum address type for contract and account addresses.

[View Address →](/primitives/address)

### Branded Types

Zero-overhead type branding pattern used throughout primitives.

[View Branded Types →](/getting-started/branded-types)

### Denomination

Wei, Gwei, and Ether types with currency conversions.

[View Denomination →](/primitives/denomination)

### FeeMarket

EIP-1559 gas pricing with base and priority fees.

[View FeeMarket →](/primitives/feemarket)

### Hardfork

Ethereum network upgrades and protocol versions.

[View Hardfork →](/primitives/hardfork)

### Transaction

Transaction creation and signing across networks.

[View Transaction →](/primitives/transaction)