What Is Metamask
what is MetaMask?
MetaMask is just an extension for accessing Ethereum enabled distributed applications, it is available on these web browsers - Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge.
It simply means bringing Ethereum to your browser - See more here
Features?
- Easy to use: Once you insall the extension, Just set up a password and remember (and store) the secret recovery phrase, and you’re done, no email address needed.
- Security: Your data is encrypted in your browser that nobody has access to, in the case of lost/forgotten password, you can use the 12-word secret recovery phase to recover it.
- Back up and restore feature: Easily recover your wallet using the your secret recovery phrase.
- Community support
- Built-In Crypto Store: It supports ERC-20 tokens.
How does it interact with the Ethereum network?
MetaMask connects to the Ethereum network through a service provider named “Infura”, and infura connects to the blockchain via hosted blockchain node. Infura internally has blockhcain nodes running in the background.
Key Things to Note
- You need need a blockchain node to interact with the blockchain(either a hosted node or your own node).
- The blockchain is the single source of truth.
- There are infrastructure providers to abstract running blockchains away from developers/users and making onboarding easy.
How to set it up?
You can install this on broweser, or mobile device (IOS or Android)
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Go to the website here and select your prefered device and hit on download
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Click on the
Get startedto begin registration
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Import or create a new wallet - Click on create wallet
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Next is an optional, you can choose to share some anonymous data with MetaMask, choose your preference
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Now, it’s time to create a strong password
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Next is a screen to advice you to secure your wallet,then save the secret recovery phrase. You can uncover the secret phrase and download it as a text file. Then click Next to proceed.
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Confirm your secret recovery phrase ``` MetaMask takes measures to guarantee you recollect this significant expression as they don’t store it for you. So you see a word puzzle to revamp that expression, precisely the manner in which it was. Except if you take care of business, the Confirm button toward the end will not get actuated, and you can’t continue.
Also assuming that you’ve missed recollecting or saving it, there is a back button under the MetaMask symbol at the top. That will take you to the past page to download and remember it.
```
Once you complete this, the Confirm button will come to life. Click that, and you will see the congratulations message on the last screen of the registration process
- Finally, click the All Done on the congratulations page to enter into your wallet dashboard.
