Call

What Can You Do?

The pop call chain command supports three types of operations:

1. Execute Extrinsics

Submit transactions to the chain by calling dispatchable functions. These require signing and will modify chain state.

2. Query Storage

Read storage items from the chain's state. Storage queries don't require signing and can read:

• Plain storage values (e.g., System::Number - the current block number)

• Storage maps (e.g., System::Account - account information by address)

3. Read Constants

Access constant values defined in the runtime metadata (e.g., System::Version, System::BlockHashCount).

Interactive Guidance (Recommended)

Interact with a chain using Pop CLI's interactive guidance by simply entering:

pop call chain

First, you will be prompted to select which chain you want to interact with from a list of available chains. You can type to filter the list and quickly find your desired chain. If you want to connect to a custom RPC endpoint, select the "Custom" option, which allows you to manually type the chain URL.

After selecting your chain, you will be prompted to select a pallet, then choose what you want to do with that pallet:

• Execute an extrinsic (function that modifies state, e.g. balance transfer)

• Query storage

• Read constants

After making your selection, you'll be guided through providing any required arguments and (for extrinsics) the account to sign the transaction.

Manual (non-interactive)

If you prefer not to use interactive prompts, you can call the chain by specifying all the required arguments directly:

Executing an Extrinsic

You can execute an extrinsic by specifying the pallet and function (dispatchable function name) and any arguments.

[!TIP] If you receive "Pallet not found" or "Function not found" errors, double-check the case of your pallet and function names. Common examples: use "Balances" (not "balances"), "transfer_keep_alive" (not "transferKeepAlive").

pop call chain --pallet System --function remark --args "0x11" --url ws://localhost:9944 --suri //Alice --sudo

Querying Storage

You can query storage items by specifying the pallet and function (storage item name). Storage queries return the current value immediately without requiring transaction signing.

pop call chain --pallet Sudo --function Key --url wss://pas-rpc.stakeworld.io -y

pop call chain --pallet System --function Account --args 0xb815821c5b300d1667d5fc081c06cc4b6addffb90464d68d871ee363b01a127c --url wss://pas-rpc.stakeworld.io -y

Reading Constants

Query constant values from the runtime. Constants are read directly from metadata and don't require signing or keys.

pop call chain --pallet System --function Version --url wss://pas-rpc.stakeworld.io -y

pop call chain --pallet System --function BlockHashCount --url wss://pas-rpc.stakeworld.io -y

Additional Options

Sudo Calls

To dispatch a call with Root origin when the chain's runtime includes pallet-sudo, you can wrap the call in a sudo.sudo() call by using the --sudo flag:

pop call chain --pallet System --function remark --args "0x11" --url ws://localhost:9944 --suri //Alice --sudo

Using Wallet for Signing

You can use a browser extension wallet to sign extrinsics instead of providing a secret URI:

pop call chain --pallet System --function remark --args "0x11" --url ws://localhost:9944/ --use-wallet

Or use the shorthand -w:

pop call chain --pallet System --function remark --args "0x11" --url ws://localhost:9944/ -w

Direct Call Data Submission

If you already have the SCALE-encoded call data and want to directly submit the extrinsic:

pop call chain --call 0x00000411 --url ws://localhost:9944/ --suri //Alice

┌   Pop CLI : Call a chain
│
⚙  Encoded call data: 0x00000411
│  
◇  Do you want to submit the extrinsic?
│  Yes 
│
◇  Extrinsic submitted successfully with hash: "0x60b10fa42fa7bb9e36460d199cef55b28b41dae3f9bb3326fc0e584009ce305b"
│
└  Call complete.

Skip Confirmation

Use the --skip-confirm or -y flag to automatically submit extrinsics without prompting for confirmation. This also prevents the prompt to perform another call:

pop call chain --pallet System --function remark --args "0x11" --url ws://localhost:9944/ --suri //Alice -y

This is particularly useful for scripting and automation.

Quick URL Entry

When prompted for a chain, you can select "Custom" to quickly type the chain URL manually, accelerating the process when you already know the endpoint.

Examples

Example 1: Query Current Block Number

pop call chain --pallet System --function Number --url ws://localhost:9944/

Example 2: Check an Account Balance

pop call chain --pallet System --function Account --args "5GrwvaEF5zXb26Fz9rcQpDWS57CtERHpNehXCPcNoHGKutQY" --url ws://localhost:9944/

Example 3: Read Runtime Version

pop call chain --pallet System --function Version --url ws://localhost:9944/

Example 4: Transfer with Wallet

pop call chain --pallet Balances --function transfer_keep_alive --args "5FHneW46xGXgs5mUiveU4sbTyGBzmstUspZC92UhjJM694ty" "1000000000000" --url wss://rpc.polkadot.io --use-wallet

Example 5: Sudo Call with Auto-confirm

pop call chain --pallet System --function set_code --args "./runtime.wasm" --url ws://localhost:9944/ --suri //Alice --sudo -y

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