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WebSocket API Protocols

This document describes the WebSocket protocol used when connecting directly to a Hathor full node.

Endpoint Resolution​

The WebSocket endpoint is derived from the HTTP base URL.

Example​

Input (HTTP)Output (WebSocket)
https://node1.mainnet.hathor.network/v1a/wss://node1.mainnet.hathor.network/v1a/ws/

Rules​

  • http → ws
  • https → wss
  • Append /ws/ to the base path

Message Framing​

  • Each WebSocket frame contains a single JSON object
  • All messages MUST include a type field
  • Message types may be namespaced using colons

Example​

{
  "type": "stream:history:vertex"
}
warning

Some numeric fields may exceed JavaScript's safe integer limits. Use a parser that supports BigInt when necessary.

Keepalive (Ping / Pong)​

Client → Server​

{ "type": "ping" }

Server → Client​

{ "type": "pong" }

Capability Discovery​

On connection, the server may send:

{
  "type": "capabilities",
  "capabilities": ["history-streaming"]
}

Supported Capabilities​

  • history-streaming → Enables streaming history APIs

Metrics & Status Events​

Best Block Height​

{
  "type": "height_updated",
  "best_block_height": 12345
}

Dashboard​

{
  "type": "dashboard",
  "best_block_height": 12345
}

Addresses Loaded​

{
  "type": "addresses_loaded"
}

Address Subscription​

Controls which addresses will receive wallet-related updates.

Subscribe​

{
  "type": "subscribe_address",
  "address": "<base58-address>"
}

Unsubscribe​

{
  "type": "unsubscribe_address",
  "address": "<base58-address>"
}

Limits and Error Handling​

Address subscription requests are not guaranteed to succeed.

A full node may reject a subscription request for reasons such as:

  • limits on the number of subscribed addresses per connection or wallet
  • invalid or malformed addresses
  • node-side resource constraints
  • temporary operational issues

Subscription Response​

{
  "type": "subscribe_address",
  "success": true,
  "message": "optional"
}

Failure Response​

{
  "type": "subscribe_address",
  "success": false,
  "message": "<error-message>"
}

Client Behavior​

When "success": false:

  • Treat the subscription as failed.
  • Do not assume the address is being tracked.
  • Stop attempting to sync that address unless the failure condition is resolved.
  • Log or surface the message when available.

Public full nodes may enforce limits on the number of subscribed addresses for a single wallet or connection.

Applications should not assume unlimited subscriptions and must handle rejections gracefully.

Address History Event​

{
  "type": "wallet:address_history",
  "history": { ... }
}

History Object​

The list of minimum fields for the history object includes:

  • tx_id: string
  • version: number
  • weight: number
  • timestamp: number
  • is_voided: boolean
  • inputs: array
  • outputs: array
  • parents: string[]

Optional Fields​

  • signalBits
  • nonce
  • token_name
  • token_symbol
  • tokens
  • height
  • processingStatus
  • Nano-contract fields:
    • nc_id
    • nc_blueprint_id
    • nc_method
    • nc_args
    • nc_pubkey
    • nc_address
    • nc_context
  • first_block

History Streaming Protocol​

This protocol is available when the history-streaming capability is supported.

It enables streaming of transaction history using an identified stream (id) and supports:

  • Flow control via windowing
  • Ordered delivery using sequence numbers (seq)
  • Optional acknowledgments for controlled consumption

Message Types​

The history streaming protocol defines a set of message types used to control the stream lifecycle and exchange data between the client and server.

Client → Server​

These messages are used by the client to initiate, control, and manage a history stream:

  • request:history:xpub → Start a history stream using an extended public key (xpub)
  • request:history:manual → Start a history stream using a manually provided list of addresses
  • request:history:ack → Acknowledge received items and optionally advance the stream window (used for flow control)

Server → Client​

These messages are emitted by the server to deliver streamed data and communicate the state of the stream:

  • stream:history:begin → Indicates the start of a history stream
  • stream:history:address → Signals a new address context within the stream
  • stream:history:vertex → Delivers a transaction or block (history item)
  • stream:history:end → Indicates that the stream has completed
  • stream:history:error → Indicates that an error occurred during streaming

Acknowledgment (ACK)​

Used when flow control is enabled, this message allows the client to inform the server of the last successfully processed item in the stream.

By sending an acknowledgment, the client:

  • Confirms receipt of messages up to a given sequence number (ack)
  • Allows the server to continue sending additional data within the configured window
{
  "type": "request:history:ack",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "ack": 10
}

XPub Streaming​

XPub streaming allows the client to request transaction history for all addresses derived from an extended public key (xpub), following standard hierarchical deterministic (HD) wallet derivation.

Request​

{
  "type": "request:history:xpub",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "xpub": "<xpub>",
  "first-index": 0,
  "gap-limit": 20,
  "window-size": 10
}

Fields​

  • id → Unique identifier for the stream. Used to correlate all subsequent streaming events
  • xpub → Extended public key used to derive addresses
  • first-index → Starting index for address derivation
  • gap-limit → Maximum number of consecutive unused addresses before stopping derivation
  • window-size → Optional value that enables flow control and acknowledgment (ACK) behavior

Behavior​

  • The server derives addresses from the provided xpub using standard HD wallet rules
  • History is streamed incrementally using stream:history:* events
  • If window-size is provided:
    • The server limits the number of unacknowledged messages
    • The client must send request:history:ack messages to continue receiving data
  • Streaming continues until:
    • All history has been sent, or
    • The client stops the stream

Stream Events​

The server emits the following events to deliver and control the history stream.

Begin​

Indicates the start of a stream.

{
  "type": "stream:history:begin",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "seq": 1
}

Address​

Marks a new address context within the stream.

{
  "type": "stream:history:address",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "address": "<address>",
  "index": 0,
  "seq": 2
}

Vertex​

Contains a transaction or block from the history.

{
  "type": "stream:history:vertex",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "data": {},
  "seq": 3
}

End​

Indicates that the stream has completed.

{
  "type": "stream:history:end",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "seq": 100
}

Error​

Indicates that an error occurred during streaming.

{
  "type": "stream:history:error",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "message": "<error-message>"
}

Manual Address Streaming​

Allows the client to stream history for a custom list of addresses.

First Batch​

{
  "type": "request:history:manual",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "first": true,
  "addresses": [[0, "<address>"]],
  "first-index": 0,
  "gap-limit": 20,
  "window-size": 10
}

Subsequent Batches​

{
  "type": "request:history:manual",
  "id": "<stream-id>",
  "first": false,
  "addresses": [[1, "<address>"]]
}

Fields​

  • addresses → List of [index, address] pairs
  • first → Indicates whether this is the initial batch
  • window-size → Optional, enables flow control

Stream Behavior​

  • Uses the same stream:history:* events as xpub streaming
  • Events are scoped by id and must be processed in order
  • Ordering is guaranteed via seq

Flow Control​

Controls how many messages can be in-flight at any time.

Concepts​

  • window-size → Maximum unacknowledged messages
  • ack → Last processed sequence number

Behavior​

  1. Client sets window-size
  2. Server sends messages up to the limit
  3. Client sends ACK
  4. Server resumes streaming

Guarantees​

  • No message loss
  • Controlled delivery rate
  • Deterministic ordering
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