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A Friendly Model Account
Let's compare NEAR accounts to most other blockchains to see why NEAR is more user-friendly:
| Feature | Most Other Blockchains | NEAR Account |
|---|---|---|
| Account ID | Complex public key (0x123..., bc1..., etc.) | Named accounts (alice.near), Implicit accounts, Eth-like accounts |
| Secret Keys | Single private key | Multiple key-pairs with different permissions |
| Smart Contracts | Synchronous execution | Asynchronous execution |
Best Practices
- Use named accounts for main activities - they're easier to manage
- Create sub-accounts for different purposes (trading, gaming, business)
- Use function call keys when integrating with third-party applications
- Keep full access keys secure - they have complete control over your account
- Regularly review permissions and remove unused access keys
Key Takeaways
- NEAR accounts are your digital identity on the blockchain, supporting both human-readable names and traditional addresses
- Named accounts (like
alice.near) are easy to remember and share, while implicit accounts use traditional cryptographic addresses - Hierarchical structure allows creating organized sub-accounts, similar to domain names on the internet
- Access keys provide flexible security with different permission levels for different use cases
Understanding NEAR's account system is fundamental to using the platform effectively, whether you're a developer building applications or a user managing your digital assets!
Quiz
What are the two main types of NEAR accounts?
A. Public accounts and private accounts.
B. Named accounts (like alice.near) and implicit accounts (like 0x123...).
C. Personal accounts and business accounts.
D. Main accounts and backup accounts.