> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.near.org/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, 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 startLine = start ? Number(start) : 1;
const fileName = fname ?? sourceUrl.split('/').pop();
return
{}
{start && end &&
Lines {start}–{end}
}
{}
{code === null ?
Loading...
:
{code.split('\n').map((line, i) =>
|
{startLine + i}
|
{line || ' '}
|
)}
}
{}
{withSourceLink &&
}
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**.
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.
***
## 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)