Networks

Ethereum Networks¶

The Ethereum network consists of a group of Ethereum nodes that communicate using the Ethereum protocol.

There is only one Ethereum mainnet, but independent networks that follow the same protocol rules can be created for testing and development purposes. Many independent "networks" follow the protocol but do not interact with each other. You can even start an Ethereum network locally on your own computer to test your smart contracts and web3 applications.

Ethereum accounts can be used across different networks, but account balances and transaction history do not carry over to networks other than the Ethereum mainnet. When testing, it is useful to know which networks are available and how to obtain testnet ETH for experimentation. Generally, for security reasons, it is not recommended to reuse mainnet accounts on testnets, or vice versa.