> ## 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.

# Using our Basic Examples

> Learn NEAR smart contract basics through practical examples: Counter, Guest Book, Donation, Coin Flip, and Hello World.

We have created a selection of basic smart contracts to help you get started building Smart Contracts on NEAR.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/neardocs/qO2GD-gji1aakHqN/assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/basic-contracts.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=qO2GD-gji1aakHqN&q=85&s=c5ae92713440464f4a6c616ba60cd5a6" alt="img" width="1137" height="477" data-path="assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/basic-contracts.png" />

These examples cover fundamental concepts such as state management, function calls, and token interactions. Each example is designed to be simple and easy to understand, making them perfect for beginners.

<Tip>
  Before tackling these examples, be sure to follow our [Quickstart Guide](../quickstart)
</Tip>

***

## Examples

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Hello World" img="https://mintcdn.com/neardocs/qO2GD-gji1aakHqN/assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/hello-near-landing-page.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=qO2GD-gji1aakHqN&q=85&s=957eef6d01b0d644c07877537068ab6e" href="https://github.com/near-examples/hello-near-examples" width="1889" height="850" data-path="assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/hello-near-landing-page.png">
    A simple smart contract that stores a `string` message on its state. [Open in NearPlay](https://nearplay.app/embed/919be62a-e1bc-49b5-b858-fb3d567d8489)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Counter" img="https://mintcdn.com/neardocs/qO2GD-gji1aakHqN/assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/count-on-near-banner.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=qO2GD-gji1aakHqN&q=85&s=a5b84ab7c4b35f986291662f4443bb4c" href="https://github.com/near-examples/counters" width="935" height="248" data-path="assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/count-on-near-banner.webp">
    A friendly counter that stores a number with methods to increment, decrement, and reset it. [Open in NearPlay](https://nearplay.app/embed/3450a8a0-57dc-4d3a-b5d0-7bed58a0c2a9)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Guest Book" img="https://mintcdn.com/neardocs/qO2GD-gji1aakHqN/assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/guest-book.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=qO2GD-gji1aakHqN&q=85&s=82650fbfbe29fe21d52d45430b827e85" href="https://github.com/near-examples/guest-book-examples" width="1080" height="457" data-path="assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/guest-book.webp">
    Users can sign the guest book, optionally paying `0.01 Ⓝ` to mark their messages as "premium". [Open in NearPlay](https://nearplay.app/embed/3862fb26-aeee-471f-90ad-f900e820de3f)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Donation" img="https://mintcdn.com/neardocs/qO2GD-gji1aakHqN/assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/donation.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=qO2GD-gji1aakHqN&q=85&s=f6486b45b90dabb9afde7a38272314c2" href="https://github.com/near-examples/donation-examples" width="1139" height="479" data-path="assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/donation.webp">
    Forward NEAR tokens to a beneficiary while tracking all donations. Learn how contracts handle token transfers. [Open in NearPlay](https://nearplay.app/embed/436d9ff9-a15c-418a-8350-ae5eead387c7)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Coin Flip" img="https://mintcdn.com/neardocs/qO2GD-gji1aakHqN/assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/coin-flip.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=qO2GD-gji1aakHqN&q=85&s=2cf9dbfd61889690205135ff6c683908" href="https://github.com/near-examples/coin-flip-examples" width="960" height="255" data-path="assets/docs/smart-contracts/tutorials/examples/coin-flip.webp">
    Guess the outcome of a coin flip and earn points. Demonstrates how to handle randomness on the blockchain. [Open in NearPlay](https://nearplay.app/embed/10aab4a0-deee-45a3-b847-8d229358cad3)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  **Try Without Setup**
  Want to try these examples immediately? Click the **"Open in NearPlay"** button on any card above to start coding in [NearPlay](https://nearplay.app) - no installation required!
</Tip>

***

## Structure of the Examples

All examples follow a consistent structure, making it easy to navigate between them. Each repository contains the **same smart contract** implemented in **Rust**, **Javascript**, and sometimes **Python**, along with a **simple frontend** to interact with the contract.

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
┌── contract-rs # contract's code in Rust
│    ├── src    # contract's code
│    ├── tests  # sandbox test
│    ├── Cargo.toml
│    └── rust-toolchain.toml
├── contract-ts # contract's code in Typescript
│    ├── src    # contract's code
│    ├── sandbox-test  # sandbox test
│    ├── package.json
│    └── tsconfig.json
├── contract-py # contract's code in Python (some examples)
│    ├── contract.py  # contract's code
│    ├── tests        # sandbox test
│    ├── pyproject.toml
│    └── uv.lock
├── frontend    # React + Next.JS frontend
│    ├── src    # frontend's implementation
│    ├── public 
│    ├── package.json
│    ├── next.config.js
│    └── jsconfig.json
└── README.md
```

***

## Frontend

Each example includes a **Next.JS** frontend that is very simple to start:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
cd frontend
yarn
yarn dev
```

These frontends are useful to demonstrate how to connect a web application to NEAR, as well as how to interact with the smart contracts.

<Tip>
  Each frontend connects to a **pre-deployed version of the contract**. Check `./frontend/config.js` to see which contract is being used, or change it to your own deployed contract
</Tip>

### NEAR Connector Hooks

All frontends use [`near-connect-hooks`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/near-connect-hooks), which wrap the functionality of [NEAR Connector](../../web3-apps/tutorials/wallet-login) to handle the connection between the web app and the NEAR blockchain.

The `near-connect-hooks` expose a `NearProvider` that is used to wrap the entire application, usually in `pages/_app.js`:

```jsx theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
import { NearProvider } from "near-connect-hooks";

export default function App({ Component, pageProps }: AppProps) {
  return (
    <NearProvider>
      <Navigation />
      <Component {...pageProps} />
    </NearProvider>
  );
}
```

<br />

We can then use the **`useNearWallet` hook** within any component to access all NEAR-related functionality, such as login/logout, view and call functions, and sign transactions:

```jsx theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
import { useNearWallet } from 'near-connect-hooks';

export default function App() {
  // Login / Logout functionality
  const { loading, signIn, signOut, signedAccountId } = useNearWallet();

  // To interact with the contract
  const { viewFunction, callFunction, signAndSendTransactions } = useNearWallet();
}
```

***

## Smart Contract

All repositories include the same smart contract implemented in different languages, including **Rust**, **Javascript**, and sometimes **Python**.

The contracts are implemented following the latest versions of each SDK, and include sandbox tests showcasing how to properly test smart contracts in a realistic environment.

### Testing

Each contract includes sandbox tests that simulate real user interactions. For example, in the `Guest Book` example, the tests cover scenarios like having multiple accounts signing the guest book, including premium messages.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="🦀 Rust">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    cd contract-rs
    cargo test
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="🌐 JavaScript">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    cd contract-ts
    yarn
    yarn test
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="🐍 Python">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    cd contract-py
    uv run pytest
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Creating an Account

All smart contracts can be built and deployed using the `NEAR CLI`. A good first step is to always create a new NEAR account to deploy your contract:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
near create-account <accountId> --useFaucet
```

<Tip>
  Here we are using the `--useFaucet` flag to create a new account and pre-fund it with the [testnet faucet](../../getting-started/faucet)
</Tip>

### Building & Deploying

Once you created an account to host the contract, you can build and deploy it:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="🦀 Rust">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    cd contract-rs
    cargo near deploy build-non-reproducible-wasm <accountId>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="🌐 JavaScript">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    cd contract-ts
    npm run build
    near deploy <accountId> ./build/<contract-name>.wasm
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="🐍 Python">
    ```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
    cd contract-py
    uvx nearc contract.py
    near deploy <accountId> <contract-name>.wasm
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Interacting via CLI

Once your contract is deployed, check the `README.md` of each repository to see the available methods you can call.

As a general guide, the `NEAR CLI` has two main ways to interact with smart contracts:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
# Call a read-only (view) method
near view <contractId> <methodName>

# Call a method that changes state
near call <contractId> <methodName> <arguments> --useAccount <yourAccount>

# Call a method and attach NEAR tokens
near call <contractId> <methodName> <arguments> --useAccount <yourAccount> --deposit 1
```

<Tip>
  Check each repository's README for the specific methods available in that contract.
</Tip>

***

## Moving Forward

After exploring these basic examples, you can:

* **Modify the contracts** - Try adding new functionality to deepen your understanding
* **Learn the fundamentals** - Check out [Contract Anatomy](/smart-contracts/anatomy/anatomy) and [Storage](/smart-contracts/anatomy/storage)