# Block Explorer

*Crypto & Digital Assets — Finicade finance glossary*

A block explorer is a website for reading a blockchain — transactions, addresses, balances, contract code. It's the practical expression of blockchain transparency: anyone can verify a payment arrived, inspect a contract before approving it, or trace where stolen funds went. Checking a contract on an explorer before signing is the single most useful habit in crypto self-defence.

**Also known as:** Etherscan, blockchain explorer, on-chain lookup

**Related terms:** [On-Chain Analysis](https://finicade.com/glossary/on-chain-analysis), [Public Key](https://finicade.com/glossary/public-key), [Node](https://finicade.com/glossary/node), [Mempool](https://finicade.com/glossary/mempool), [Hash Function](https://finicade.com/glossary/hash-function)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/block-explorer