> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://neardocs-update-rpc-openapi.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What is NEAR?

> A scalable and secure chain with an amazing developer experience

export const Github = ({url, start, end, fname, language, withSourceLink = true}) => {
  const [code, setCode] = useState(null);
  function toRaw(ref) {
    const fullUrl = ref.slice(ref.indexOf('https'));
    const [url] = fullUrl.split('#');
    const [org, repo, , branch, ...pathSeg] = new URL(url).pathname.split('/').slice(1);
    return `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/${org}/${repo}/${branch}/${pathSeg.join('/')}`;
  }
  async function fetchCode(url, fromLine, toLine) {
    let res;
    if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
      const validUntil = localStorage.getItem(`${url}-until`);
      if (validUntil && Number(validUntil) > Date.now()) {
        res = localStorage.getItem(url);
      }
    }
    if (!res) {
      try {
        res = await (await fetch(url)).text();
        if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
          localStorage.setItem(url, res);
          localStorage.setItem(`${url}-until`, String(Date.now() + 60000));
        }
      } catch {
        return 'Error fetching code, please try reloading';
      }
    }
    let body = res.split('\n');
    const from = fromLine ? Number(fromLine) - 1 : 0;
    const to = toLine ? Number(toLine) : body.length;
    body = body.slice(from, to);
    const precedingSpace = body.reduce((prev, line) => {
      if (line.length === 0) return prev;
      const spaces = line.match(/^\s+/);
      if (spaces) return Math.min(prev, spaces[0].length);
      return 0;
    }, Infinity);
    return body.map(line => line.slice(precedingSpace === Infinity ? 0 : precedingSpace)).join('\n');
  }
  function buildSourceUrl(url, start, end) {
    const base = url.split('#')[0];
    if (start && end) return `${base}#L${start}-L${end}`;
    if (start) return `${base}#L${start}`;
    return base;
  }
  useEffect(() => {
    const rawUrl = toRaw(url);
    fetchCode(rawUrl, start, end).then(res => setCode(res));
  }, [url, start, end]);
  const sourceUrl = buildSourceUrl(url, start, end);
  const fileName = fname ?? sourceUrl.split('/').pop();
  return <div className="my-5">
      {code === null ? <div>Loading...</div> : <CodeBlock language={language} filename={fileName} lines>
          {code}
        </CodeBlock>}
      {withSourceLink && <div className="flex justify-end" style={{
    marginTop: "-1rem"
  }}>
          <a href={sourceUrl} target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" className="text-[0.6875rem] font-medium text-[#656d76] no-underline hover:text-[#1f2328] dark:text-[#8b949e] dark:hover:text-[#e6edf3]">
            See code on GitHub
          </a>
        </div>}
    </div>;
};

NEAR is a **user-friendly** and [**carbon-neutral**](https://near.org/blog/near-climate-neutral-product/) blockchain, built to be [fast, secure, and infinitely scalable](https://www.leewayhertz.com/comparison-of-blockchain-protocols#Parallel-comparison-of-various-blockchain-networks). It offers a simple user experience with named accounts, low fees, and a robust developer ecosystem.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/neardocs-update-rpc-openapi/DU4IGfk1CKPKKvuz/assets/docs/welcome-pages/1.near-protocol.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=DU4IGfk1CKPKKvuz&q=85&s=2584c23f00b9af109ef12f907c038fd5" alt="img" width="1547" height="566" data-path="assets/docs/welcome-pages/1.near-protocol.webp" />

In technical terms, NEAR is a [layer one](https://coinmarketcap.com/academy/glossary/layer-1-blockchain), [sharded](https://near.org/blog/near-launches-nightshade-sharding-paving-the-way-for-mass-adoption), [proof-of-stake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_stake) blockchain built with usability in mind.

In simpler terms, NEAR is the **blockchain for everyone**.

<Accordion title="What do these Technical Terms mean?">
  In technical terms, NEAR is a [layer-one](https://coinmarketcap.com/academy/glossary/layer-1-blockchain), [sharded](https://near.org/blog/near-launches-nightshade-sharding-paving-the-way-for-mass-adoption), [proof-of-stake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_stake) blockchain built with usability in mind.

  [Layer-1](https://coinmarketcap.com/academy/glossary/layer-1-blockchain) means NEAR is the foundation that supports everything else built on it. It keeps all the transaction records safe and unchangeable which keeps the network secure and trustworthy.

  [Sharded](https://near.org/blog/near-launches-nightshade-sharding-paving-the-way-for-mass-adoption) means the network is broken into pieces that work in parallel. This helps NEAR process transactions quickly and efficiently.

  [Proof-of-stake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_stake) uses less electricity compared with other blockchains which use proof-of-work. Users show they own NEAR tokens to help run the network. This makes it cheaper and lets more people use it.
</Accordion>

***

## Why Choose NEAR?

NEAR is a technical marvel, offering built-in features such as named accounts and account abstraction. For developers, NEAR offers everything needed for their applications, from smart contracts to indexers. All while being interoperable with other chains.

### Simple to Use

1. Use [**named accounts**](/protocol/accounts-contracts/account-model) like `alice.near`
2. Simple sign-up: create an [account for free](/getting-started/create-account), login [with socials](../web3-apps/tutorials/wallet-login) or [telegram](https://web.telegram.org/k/#@herewalletbot)
3. Transactions are **fast** *(\~1.3s finality)* and **cheap** *(\< 1¢ in fees)*
4. You don't need to buy crypto thanks to **built-in account abstraction**
5. [Access Keys](/protocol/accounts-contracts/access-keys) make it safe and easy to use
6. Control accounts on **other chains** thanks to [chain signatures](../chain-abstraction/chain-signatures)

### Battle-Tested

1. 5 years of **100% uptime** and [**4 Billion** transactions](https://pikespeak.ai/near-world/overview) processed
2. NEAR has sustained peaks of [>13M transactions](https://pikespeak.ai/near-world/overview) in a single day
3. NEAR is home to decentralized apps with [millions of users](https://dappradar.com/rankings/protocol/near?sort=uawCount\&order=desc\&range=30d):
   * [Kai-ching](https://cosmose.ai/)
   * [Sweat](https://sweateconomy.com/)
   * [Hot Wallet](https://t.me/herewalletbot/)

### Great Developer Experience

1. Build smart contracts with **Javascript** or **Rust**
2. **Simple onboarding**, thanks to its complete documentation and examples
3. Get answers and learn at NEAR DevRel **office hours**, where anybody can participate
4. Earn from your contract's gas fees
5. **EVM compatible** with [Project Aurora](http://www.aurora.dev) *(Deploy your Solidity contracts with ease)*

### Environmentally Friendly

1. NEAR is **[certified carbon-neutral](https://near.org/blog/the-near-blockchain-is-climate-neutral/)**
2. NEAR **consumes in a year** the same energy [**bitcoin consumes in 3 minutes**](https://medium.com/nearprotocol/how-near-went-carbon-neutral-e656db96da47#:~:text=The%20firm%20found%20that%20NEAR,PoS%20technology%20instead%20of%20PoW)