Learn Hardhat - 10 Code Examples & CST Typing Practice Test
Hardhat is a JavaScript/TypeScript-based Ethereum development environment and framework. It enables developers to compile, deploy, test, and debug smart contracts efficiently on Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks.
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Learn HARDHAT with Real Code Examples
Updated Nov 25, 2025
Explain
Hardhat provides a local Ethereum network for development, enabling fast testing and debugging.
Integrates with Solidity compiler to build smart contracts and generate artifacts.
Supports scripts for deployment, contract interaction, and automated testing.
Provides a flexible plugin system for tasks like ethers.js integration, gas reporting, and contract verification.
Widely used in DeFi, NFT projects, and backend DApp development.
Core Features
Tasks and scripts for custom operations
Hardhat Network for instant blockchain simulation
Console logging for smart contract debugging
Testing framework integration (Mocha/Chai)
Contract deployment and verification automation
Basic Concepts Overview
Project - Hardhat workspace with contracts, scripts, and tests
Task - CLI commands for custom operations
Hardhat Network - local Ethereum simulation
Artifact - compiled contract and ABI
Plugin - extends Hardhat functionality
Project Structure
contracts/ - Solidity source code
scripts/ - deployment and interaction scripts
test/ - unit and integration tests
hardhat.config.js - configuration
artifacts/ - compiled contracts and ABIs
Building Workflow
Write Solidity smart contracts in contracts/ folder
Compile using `npx hardhat compile`
Run tests using `npx hardhat test`
Deploy contracts via scripts
Interact with contracts using Hardhat console or scripts
Difficulty Use Cases
Beginner: deploy simple token contract
Intermediate: test DeFi contract interactions
Advanced: deploy multi-contract systems
Expert: integrate frontend with deployed contracts
Auditor: debug contract behavior and transaction flow
Comparisons
Hardhat vs Truffle: Hardhat is faster and plugin-based, Truffle is monolithic
Hardhat vs Brownie: Hardhat JS/TS-focused, Brownie Python-focused
Hardhat vs Web3.py: Hardhat manages full dev workflow, Web3.py is library only
Hardhat vs Foundry: Hardhat JS ecosystem, Foundry Rust/solidity-native
Hardhat vs Remix: Remix is web-based IDE, Hardhat is local development framework
Versioning Timeline
2018 - Hardhat initial release by Nomic Labs
2019 - Hardhat Network introduced
2020 - Plugin system introduced
2021 - TypeScript support and extended tasks
2022-2025 - Enhanced mainnet forking and CI/CD integration
Glossary
Hardhat Network: local blockchain simulator
Task: custom CLI operation
Artifact: compiled contract data
Plugin: extend Hardhat functionality
Forking: simulate mainnet state locally
Frequently Asked Questions about Hardhat
What is Hardhat?
Hardhat is a JavaScript/TypeScript-based Ethereum development environment and framework. It enables developers to compile, deploy, test, and debug smart contracts efficiently on Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks.
What are the primary use cases for Hardhat?
Compiling and deploying Solidity smart contracts. Running local Ethereum test networks. Automated testing of smart contracts. Debugging and logging transactions. Scripted contract interactions and deployments
What are the strengths of Hardhat?
Fast local blockchain simulation. Easy Solidity compilation and deployment. Highly extensible with plugins. Debugging and stack traces for contracts. Integrates seamlessly with JS/TS frontends
What are the limitations of Hardhat?
Requires JavaScript/TypeScript knowledge. Primarily Ethereum/EVM-focused. Local network state resets on restart (ephemeral). Some plugins may have version compatibility issues. Less Python integration compared to Web3.py
How can I practice Hardhat typing speed?
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