Estimate Gas fees

Gas fees on Shibarium, like on other EVM-compatible chains, fluctuate based on network congestion and the complexity of the transaction. Misjudging the gas fee can cause:

• Delays in processing.
• Failed transactions.
• Suboptimal user experiences.

When building applications on Shibarium, accurate gas fee estimation is crucial for smooth transaction execution. Gas fees compensate validators for processing transactions—inadequate estimates can lead to delays or failed transactions.

Here’s a simple approach to gas calculation that works for most use cases, with examples to help you implement it effectively.

Gas Estimation Process

For most scenarios, follow these steps to estimate gas fees effectively:

1. Estimate Gas Consumption

1. General Gas Estimation

   Use the eth_estimateGas RPC method to estimate the gas units required for your transaction. This method analyzes the transaction's computational requirements.

   Example:

   const gasEstimate = await web3.eth.estimateGas({
     from: "0xYourAddress",
     to: "0xContractAddress",
     data: "0xFunctionCallData",
   });
   console.log(`Estimated Gas: ${gasEstimate}`);

2. Contract Method-Specific Estimation

   For precise gas estimation when calling a specific method in a smart contract, use the estimateGas function available on contract methods. This provides a more accurate gas estimate since it takes the contract ABI and function parameters into account.

   const gasEstimate = await myContract.methods.myMethod(123).estimateGas({
       from: '0xYourAddress'
   });
   console.log(`Gas Estimate: ${gasEstimate}`);

2. Fetch Current Gas Prices

Query the network's gas price using eth_gasPrice for basic transactions or eth_feeHistory for EIP-1559-compatible fee structures.

const gasPrice = await web3.eth.getGasPrice();
console.log(`Current Gas Price: ${gasPrice}`);

3. Add a Buffer

To ensure your transaction processes smoothly even during slight congestion, add a 10-20% buffer to the estimated gas.

const gasLimitWithBuffer = Math.ceil(gasEstimate * 1.2); // 20% buffer

4. Submit the Transaction

Use the calculated gas values when submitting the transaction.

const tx = await web3.eth.sendTransaction({
  from: "0xYourAddress",
  to: "0xContractAddress",
  value: web3.utils.toWei("0.1", "ether"),
  gas: gasLimitWithBuffer,
  gasPrice: gasPrice,
});
console.log(`Transaction Hash: ${tx.transactionHash}`);

info

For more advanced use cases, such as batch processing or dynamic fee adjustments during high congestion, developers can:

• Use historical fee data with eth_feeHistory.
• Monitor mempool activity to adjust fees dynamically.
• Leverage third-party APIs for predictive fee estimation.

These scenarios typically require custom implementations and robust error-handling mechanisms.

How to Handle Stuck Transactions

A common issue developers face is stuck transactions due to low gas fees. Many developers incorrectly create new transactions with higher fees instead of addressing the stuck transaction.

When a transaction is submitted with a low gas fee, miners or validators prioritize higher-paying transactions. If your transaction is pending for too long, any new transaction with the same nonce cannot proceed until the original is resolved.

Resubmitting the Same Transaction

To fix this, resubmit the same transaction with:

1. The same nonce as the stuck transaction.
2. A higher gas price.

const tx = {
    nonce: web3.utils.toHex(5), // Replace with the stuck transaction's nonce
    to: '0xContractAddress',
    value: web3.utils.toWei('0.1', 'ether'),
    gas: web3.utils.toHex(21000),
    gasPrice: web3.utils.toHex(web3.utils.toWei('50', 'gwei')) // Set a higher gas price
};

const signedTx = await web3.eth.accounts.signTransaction(tx, 'PRIVATE_KEY');
const receipt = await web3.eth.sendSignedTransaction(signedTx.rawTransaction);
console.log(`Transaction Hash: ${receipt.transactionHash}`);

With the right approach, developers can ensure smooth and cost-effective operations on Shibarium.