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

# eth_call

> Executes a message call without creating a transaction. Use pending to simulate against pre-confirmed state.

Executes a message call immediately without broadcasting a transaction to the network. No gas is consumed on-chain. Used to read contract state or simulate calls.

<Tip>
  **Flashblocks:** Query `https://mainnet.base.org` with `"pending"` to simulate against the current pre-confirmed block state, updated every \~200ms.
</Tip>

<Note>
  **`eth_call "pending"` block context on Flashblocks nodes:** Block-context properties (`block.number`, `block.timestamp`, `block.basefee`) may reflect a block several behind tip due to how nodes cache historical Flashblocks. See the [FAQ](/base-chain/flashblocks/faq#why-does-eth_call-pending-report-a-block-number-several-blocks-behind-tip) for details.
</Note>

## Parameters

<ParamField body="transaction" type="object" required>
  The transaction call object.

  <Expandable title="Transaction fields">
    <ParamField body="from" type="string">
      Address the call is sent from. Optional; defaults to the zero address.
    </ParamField>

    <ParamField body="to" type="string" required>
      Address the call is directed to.
    </ParamField>

    <ParamField body="gas" type="string">
      Gas provided for the call as a hexadecimal integer. Defaults to a high limit if omitted.
    </ParamField>

    <ParamField body="gasPrice" type="string">
      Gas price in wei as a hexadecimal integer. For legacy transactions. Optional.
    </ParamField>

    <ParamField body="maxFeePerGas" type="string">
      EIP-1559 maximum total fee per gas. Optional.
    </ParamField>

    <ParamField body="maxPriorityFeePerGas" type="string">
      EIP-1559 maximum priority fee per gas. Optional.
    </ParamField>

    <ParamField body="value" type="string">
      Value transferred in wei as a hexadecimal integer. Optional.
    </ParamField>

    <ParamField body="data" type="string">
      ABI-encoded call data: the 4-byte function selector followed by encoded arguments. Optional.
    </ParamField>
  </Expandable>
</ParamField>

<ParamField body="block" type="string" required>
  Block number in hex, or `"latest"`, `"pending"`, `"safe"`, `"finalized"`, `"earliest"`. Use `"pending"` to call against pre-confirmed state.
</ParamField>

## Returns

<ResponseField name="result" type="string">
  The return value of the call as a hex-encoded byte array.
</ResponseField>

## Error Codes

| Code     | Message            | Description                                                                                                    |
| -------- | ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `-32000` | execution reverted | The call reverted. The `data` field in the error object contains the ABI-encoded revert reason when available. |

## Example

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Standard (latest) theme={null}
  curl https://mainnet.base.org \
    -X POST \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "jsonrpc": "2.0",
      "method": "eth_call",
      "params": [
        {
          "to": "0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913",
          "data": "0x70a082310000000000000000000000004200000000000000000000000000000000000006"
        },
        "latest"
      ],
      "id": 1
    }'
  ```

  ```bash Flashblocks (pending, ~200ms) theme={null}
  curl https://mainnet.base.org \
    -X POST \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "jsonrpc": "2.0",
      "method": "eth_call",
      "params": [
        {
          "to": "0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913",
          "data": "0x70a082310000000000000000000000004200000000000000000000000000000000000006"
        },
        "pending"
      ],
      "id": 1
    }'
  ```

  ```json Response theme={null}
  {
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 1,
    "result": "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000005f5e100"
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>