If view or pure function doesn't cost any gas, would they be abused/free ride?

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So if I understand this correctly, view function only read data from ethereum and doesn't mutate any state and pure function doesn't even read data and they are intended for cases like return 1+1;

If this is the case, would they be abused since they don't cost any gas? Like could I just use them for free computation? What happen if I have a infinite loop in a view or pure function?

go-ethereum gas gas-limit

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edited 10 mins ago

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

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up vote
1
down vote

favorite

So if I understand this correctly, view function only read data from ethereum and doesn't mutate any state and pure function doesn't even read data and they are intended for cases like return 1+1;

If this is the case, would they be abused since they don't cost any gas? Like could I just use them for free computation? What happen if I have a infinite loop in a view or pure function?

go-ethereum gas gas-limit

share|improve this question

edited 10 mins ago

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

1064

New contributor

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

So if I understand this correctly, view function only read data from ethereum and doesn't mutate any state and pure function doesn't even read data and they are intended for cases like return 1+1;

If this is the case, would they be abused since they don't cost any gas? Like could I just use them for free computation? What happen if I have a infinite loop in a view or pure function?

go-ethereum gas gas-limit

share|improve this question

edited 10 mins ago

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

1064

New contributor

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

So if I understand this correctly, view function only read data from ethereum and doesn't mutate any state and pure function doesn't even read data and they are intended for cases like return 1+1;

If this is the case, would they be abused since they don't cost any gas? Like could I just use them for free computation? What happen if I have a infinite loop in a view or pure function?

go-ethereum gas gas-limit

go-ethereum gas gas-limit

share|improve this question

edited 10 mins ago

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

1064

New contributor

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 10 mins ago

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

1064

New contributor

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited 10 mins ago

edited 10 mins ago

edited 10 mins ago

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

1064

New contributor

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

1064

asked 8 hours ago

noooooooob

1064

1064

New contributor

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

noooooooob is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote

pure and view functions only are "free" when you call them externally, as in you call that function by itself and run the calculation on your node. So if you had a function that returned "1+1", yes you can call that individual view function as many times as you want for free, even without creating a transaction.

However, if you use a view or pure function within an internal function which DOES cost gas, you will be charged for those calculations like normal.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to invoke the bad pure function not using my own node ? Would that still be consider abuse or free ride ? Does the network penalize such behavior in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  13 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
3
down vote

Just to add to @Shawn's good answer.

Yes, you can abuse them. But as the pure and view computations are performed only on your own node you would only hurt your own node. You would not hurt the Ethereum network in any way. If you call the function(s) enough, you might even crash your node but it still wouldn't hurt the network in any way.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Say if I call my contract via web 3 without my own node, would that affect the network in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  16 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  No, you always have to call some node, so only the called node is affected. You can't access the blockchain without an intermediary node.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  15 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hmm .. Bear with my ignorance. My understanding is that when you use dapp, you access the free node hosted by infura via web3 ?
  – noooooooob
  11 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Infura is one way, yes. They provide you with a node you can use. But there are many other alternatives.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  10 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  So is it fair to say that we could free ride the computation of pure/view function when we are not running our own node? Eg. Could I run expensive number crunch task on one of the network node for free ?
  – noooooooob
  7 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote

pure and view functions only are "free" when you call them externally, as in you call that function by itself and run the calculation on your node. So if you had a function that returned "1+1", yes you can call that individual view function as many times as you want for free, even without creating a transaction.

However, if you use a view or pure function within an internal function which DOES cost gas, you will be charged for those calculations like normal.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to invoke the bad pure function not using my own node ? Would that still be consider abuse or free ride ? Does the network penalize such behavior in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  13 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

pure and view functions only are "free" when you call them externally, as in you call that function by itself and run the calculation on your node. So if you had a function that returned "1+1", yes you can call that individual view function as many times as you want for free, even without creating a transaction.

However, if you use a view or pure function within an internal function which DOES cost gas, you will be charged for those calculations like normal.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to invoke the bad pure function not using my own node ? Would that still be consider abuse or free ride ? Does the network penalize such behavior in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  13 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

up vote
5
down vote

pure and view functions only are "free" when you call them externally, as in you call that function by itself and run the calculation on your node. So if you had a function that returned "1+1", yes you can call that individual view function as many times as you want for free, even without creating a transaction.

However, if you use a view or pure function within an internal function which DOES cost gas, you will be charged for those calculations like normal.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

pure and view functions only are "free" when you call them externally, as in you call that function by itself and run the calculation on your node. So if you had a function that returned "1+1", yes you can call that individual view function as many times as you want for free, even without creating a transaction.

However, if you use a view or pure function within an internal function which DOES cost gas, you will be charged for those calculations like normal.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

answered 8 hours ago

Shawn Tabrizi

2,6551320

2,6551320

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to invoke the bad pure function not using my own node ? Would that still be consider abuse or free ride ? Does the network penalize such behavior in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  13 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to invoke the bad pure function not using my own node ? Would that still be consider abuse or free ride ? Does the network penalize such behavior in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  13 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to invoke the bad pure function not using my own node ? Would that still be consider abuse or free ride ? Does the network penalize such behavior in anyway?
– noooooooob
13 mins ago

Thanks for the insight. Is it possible to invoke the bad pure function not using my own node ? Would that still be consider abuse or free ride ? Does the network penalize such behavior in anyway?
– noooooooob
13 mins ago

add a comment | 

up vote
3
down vote

Just to add to @Shawn's good answer.

Yes, you can abuse them. But as the pure and view computations are performed only on your own node you would only hurt your own node. You would not hurt the Ethereum network in any way. If you call the function(s) enough, you might even crash your node but it still wouldn't hurt the network in any way.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Say if I call my contract via web 3 without my own node, would that affect the network in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  16 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  No, you always have to call some node, so only the called node is affected. You can't access the blockchain without an intermediary node.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  15 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hmm .. Bear with my ignorance. My understanding is that when you use dapp, you access the free node hosted by infura via web3 ?
  – noooooooob
  11 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Infura is one way, yes. They provide you with a node you can use. But there are many other alternatives.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  10 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  So is it fair to say that we could free ride the computation of pure/view function when we are not running our own node? Eg. Could I run expensive number crunch task on one of the network node for free ?
  – noooooooob
  7 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
3
down vote

Just to add to @Shawn's good answer.

Yes, you can abuse them. But as the pure and view computations are performed only on your own node you would only hurt your own node. You would not hurt the Ethereum network in any way. If you call the function(s) enough, you might even crash your node but it still wouldn't hurt the network in any way.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Say if I call my contract via web 3 without my own node, would that affect the network in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  16 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  No, you always have to call some node, so only the called node is affected. You can't access the blockchain without an intermediary node.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  15 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hmm .. Bear with my ignorance. My understanding is that when you use dapp, you access the free node hosted by infura via web3 ?
  – noooooooob
  11 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Infura is one way, yes. They provide you with a node you can use. But there are many other alternatives.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  10 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  So is it fair to say that we could free ride the computation of pure/view function when we are not running our own node? Eg. Could I run expensive number crunch task on one of the network node for free ?
  – noooooooob
  7 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
3
down vote

up vote
3
down vote

Just to add to @Shawn's good answer.

Yes, you can abuse them. But as the pure and view computations are performed only on your own node you would only hurt your own node. You would not hurt the Ethereum network in any way. If you call the function(s) enough, you might even crash your node but it still wouldn't hurt the network in any way.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

Just to add to @Shawn's good answer.

Yes, you can abuse them. But as the pure and view computations are performed only on your own node you would only hurt your own node. You would not hurt the Ethereum network in any way. If you call the function(s) enough, you might even crash your node but it still wouldn't hurt the network in any way.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

answered 6 hours ago

Lauri Peltonen

3,1631319

3,1631319

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Say if I call my contract via web 3 without my own node, would that affect the network in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  16 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  No, you always have to call some node, so only the called node is affected. You can't access the blockchain without an intermediary node.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  15 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hmm .. Bear with my ignorance. My understanding is that when you use dapp, you access the free node hosted by infura via web3 ?
  – noooooooob
  11 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Infura is one way, yes. They provide you with a node you can use. But there are many other alternatives.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  10 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  So is it fair to say that we could free ride the computation of pure/view function when we are not running our own node? Eg. Could I run expensive number crunch task on one of the network node for free ?
  – noooooooob
  7 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Say if I call my contract via web 3 without my own node, would that affect the network in anyway?
  – noooooooob
  16 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  No, you always have to call some node, so only the called node is affected. You can't access the blockchain without an intermediary node.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  15 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hmm .. Bear with my ignorance. My understanding is that when you use dapp, you access the free node hosted by infura via web3 ?
  – noooooooob
  11 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Infura is one way, yes. They provide you with a node you can use. But there are many other alternatives.
  – Lauri Peltonen
  10 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  So is it fair to say that we could free ride the computation of pure/view function when we are not running our own node? Eg. Could I run expensive number crunch task on one of the network node for free ?
  – noooooooob
  7 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

Say if I call my contract via web 3 without my own node, would that affect the network in anyway?
– noooooooob
16 mins ago

Say if I call my contract via web 3 without my own node, would that affect the network in anyway?
– noooooooob
16 mins ago

No, you always have to call some node, so only the called node is affected. You can't access the blockchain without an intermediary node.
– Lauri Peltonen
15 mins ago

No, you always have to call some node, so only the called node is affected. You can't access the blockchain without an intermediary node.
– Lauri Peltonen
15 mins ago

Hmm .. Bear with my ignorance. My understanding is that when you use dapp, you access the free node hosted by infura via web3 ?
– noooooooob
11 mins ago

Hmm .. Bear with my ignorance. My understanding is that when you use dapp, you access the free node hosted by infura via web3 ?
– noooooooob
11 mins ago

Infura is one way, yes. They provide you with a node you can use. But there are many other alternatives.
– Lauri Peltonen
10 mins ago

Infura is one way, yes. They provide you with a node you can use. But there are many other alternatives.
– Lauri Peltonen
10 mins ago

So is it fair to say that we could free ride the computation of pure/view function when we are not running our own node? Eg. Could I run expensive number crunch task on one of the network node for free ?
– noooooooob
7 mins ago

So is it fair to say that we could free ride the computation of pure/view function when we are not running our own node? Eg. Could I run expensive number crunch task on one of the network node for free ?
– noooooooob
7 mins ago

 | 
show 1 more comment

noooooooob is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.

 

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