XRP Ledger API Guide: How to Use `account_info` to Query Account Data

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a powerful, decentralized blockchain network designed for fast, low-cost transactions. One of its most essential tools for developers and analysts is the account_info API command. This endpoint allows you to retrieve detailed information about any XRP account, including balance, transaction sequence, activity status, and pending transactions.

Whether you're building a wallet application, monitoring transaction flow, or debugging ledger behavior, understanding how to use account_info effectively is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through request formats, response structures, key parameters, and real-world use cases — all optimized for clarity, SEO, and practical implementation.

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Understanding the `account_info` Command

The account_info command retrieves the current state of a specified account on the XRP Ledger. All returned data is relative to a specific ledger version — either the latest validated ledger or a user-defined one.

This command is supported across multiple interfaces:

WebSocket
JSON-RPC
Command-line interface (CLI)

It’s ideal for checking:

XRP balance
Account activity status
Transaction sequence number
Pending (queued) transactions
Owner count (objects owned by the account)
Validation flags and history

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Request Formats Explained

WebSocket Request Example

WebSocket is the preferred method for real-time interaction with the XRP Ledger.

{
  "id": 2,
  "command": "account_info",
  "account": "r9cZA1mLK5R5Am25ArfXFmqgNwjZgnfk59",
  "strict": true,
  "ledger_index": "current",
  "queue": true
}

JSON-RPC Request Example

Used in server-to-server integrations where HTTP-based RPC is required.

{
  "method": "account_info",
  "params": [
    {
      "account": "rG1QQv2nh2gr7RCZ1P8YYcBUKCCN633jCn",
      "strict": true,
      "ledger_index": "current",
      "queue": true
    }
  ]
}

Command-Line Request Example

For direct access via the rippled CLI tool:

rippled account_info r9cZA1mLK5R5Am25ArfXFmqgNwjZgnfk59 true

Note: The syntax is account_info [account] [ledger_index|ledger_hash] [strict].

Request Parameters Breakdown

Parameter	Type	Required?	Description
`account`	String	Yes	Account address (e.g., r-address) to query
`strict`	Boolean	Optional	Enforces strict address format; rejects public keys
`ledger_hash`	String (hex)	Optional	Specific ledger hash to reference
`ledger_index`	Number or String	Optional	Ledger index or shortcut (`current`, `closed`, `validated`)
`queue`	Boolean	Optional	Include queued transaction data if `true`
`signer_lists`	Boolean	Optional	Return associated signer lists if enabled

Using ledger_index: "validated" ensures you're querying against a final, immutable ledger state — best for production systems.

Response Structure Overview

Responses vary slightly by interface but contain the same core data.

Sample WebSocket Response

{
  "id": 5,
  "status": "success",
  "type": "response",
  "result": {
    "account_data": {
      "Account": "rG1QQv2nh2gr7RCZ1P8YYcBUKCCN633jCn",
      "Balance": "999999999960",
      "Flags": 8388608,
      "LedgerEntryType": "AccountRoot",
      "OwnerCount": 0,
      "PreviousTxnID": "4294BEBE5B569A18C0A2702387C9B1E7146DC3A5850C1E87204951C6FDAA4C42",
      "PreviousTxnLgrSeq": 3,
      "Sequence": 6,
      "index": "92FA6A9FC8EA6018D5D16532D7795C91BFB0831355BDFDA177E86C8BF997985F"
    },
    "ledger_current_index": 4,
    "queue_data": {
      "auth_change_queued": true,
      "highest_sequence": 10,
      "lowest_sequence": 6,
      "max_spend_drops_total": "500",
      "transactions": [
        {
          "auth_change": false,
          "fee": "100",
          "fee_level": "2560",
          "max_spend_drops": "100",
          "seq": 6
        }
      ],
      "txn_count": 5
    },
    "validated": false
  }
}

Key Response Fields Explained

Top-Level Fields

account_data: Core account details from the ledger.
ledger_current_index: Current open ledger index (not yet validated).
queue_data: Details about pending transactions waiting to be confirmed.
validated: Indicates whether the result comes from a fully validated ledger.

Inside `account_data`

Account: The queried account’s address.
Balance: XRP balance in drops (1 XRP = 1,000,000 drops).
Sequence: Next expected transaction sequence number.
OwnerCount: Number of trust lines, offers, or other objects owned by the account.
Flags: Account settings and permissions encoded as integers.
PreviousTxnID / PreviousTxnLgrSeq: Last transaction ID and ledger it was written to.

Inside `queue_data`

Useful for tracking unconfirmed transactions:

txn_count: Number of queued transactions.
lowest_sequence, highest_sequence: Range of expected transaction sequences.
auth_change_queued: True if an authorization change (like disabling master key) is pending.
transactions[]: Array of individual transaction estimates in queue.

Each transaction includes:

seq: Sequence number
fee: Cost in drops
max_spend_drops: Maximum potential cost
auth_change: Whether it alters account auth settings

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Practical Use Cases

1. Balance Checking for Wallet Apps

Fetch an account’s XRP balance instantly:

{
  "command": "account_info",
  "account": "rEXAMPLE...",
  "ledger_index": "validated"
}

Check account_data.Balance, then convert from drops to XRP.

2. Detecting Stuck Transactions

If your app submits a transaction but it doesn’t confirm, use queue: true. If the sequence appears in queue_data.transactions, it's still pending. If missing, it may have failed or expired.

3. Monitoring Account Activity

Track changes in Sequence, OwnerCount, or Balance over time to detect incoming payments or new trust lines.

4. Preventing Sequence Conflicts

Before submitting a new transaction, always fetch the current Sequence. Reuse can cause failures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What does “drops” mean in XRP balances?
A: Drops are the smallest unit of XRP. 1 XRP = 1,000,000 drops. All balances in the API are returned in drops to avoid floating-point inaccuracies.

Q: Why is my balance not updating after a transaction?
A: Ensure you're checking against a validated ledger ("ledger_index": "validated"). Unvalidated ledgers may show outdated or temporary states.

Q: How do I know if a transaction is stuck?
A: Use "queue": true. If your transaction’s sequence is in the queue but not confirming, consider increasing the fee or resubmitting.

Q: Can I query multiple accounts at once?
A: No — account_info supports one account per request. For bulk queries, batch multiple requests over WebSocket or HTTP/2.

Q: Is this API free to use?
A: Yes — public rippled servers allow free access. However, for production apps, consider running your own node or using a reliable provider for consistency.

Q: What’s the difference between current, closed, and validated ledgers?
A:

current: Open ledger — changes frequently
closed: Most recent closed ledger — not yet finalized
validated: Finalized and immutable — best for accurate data

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Final Thoughts

The account_info command is a foundational tool in the XRP Ledger ecosystem. Whether you're debugging, building wallets, or analyzing on-chain behavior, mastering this API call empowers you with real-time, accurate insights into account states.

By leveraging proper parameters like validated, queue, and strict, you ensure reliability and performance in your applications. Combine this knowledge with best practices in rate limiting and error handling, and you're well-equipped for robust XRPL integration.

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