Understand Metamask: the basics.
Tags: web3, metamask
Published: 2022-03-30 00:33:01

The browser-based wallet Metamask is a gateway to exploring Dapps and the world of Crypto. You need a wallet to explore innovation which includes:
1. [DeFi](https://ethereum.org/en/defi/)
2. [NFTs](https://ethereum.org/en/nft/#main-content)
3. [DAOs](https://ethereum.org/en/dao/#main-content)

Yet, the web interface can be daunting to wrap one's head around. In addition, it can be confusing if you haven't used an extension before, especially for carrying out financial transactions.

In this article, I aim to simplify the Metamask web interface so that you can understand what is going on. 

This tutorial is not an in-depth tutorial. It will only break down the main features of the Metamask Interface.

Let's get started.

Click the extension in the top bar of your browser. It reveals a mini-window similar to the image below:

![first page of metamask](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7hq28olumecysi0pw2et.png)

Let's take a look at the key features.

## 1. Connected network

By default, the network Metamask shows is Ethereum Mainnet.

![Metamask network: Ethereum mainnet](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/o29exzvwv8drb25owka6.png)

The Ethereum network is the leading network for smart contracts, Defi, NFTS, and DAOs. Therefore, if you plan on transacting on the Ethereum network, you do not need to change this.

A developer working on a project on a different network like Polygon will need to change this. 

A regular user might or might not need to change it. 

For the scope of this tutorial, we will leave it as is. 

## 2. Account Information
Beneath the network section lies another section. The highlighted circle is the account Info.

![account info](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/c0an9acrjkga6ad75cxd.png)

Accounts can have custom names that you set during the initial setup. For example, I have it set as Account 1.

Look a bit closer. You can see a set of random characters. For example, it is "0xAB*...359b" in the image above.

The set of characters is your wallet address. The wallet address is helpful for several tasks. The tasks include the following:

1. Receiving Eth
2. Minting NFTs
3. Using Defi Protocols etc.

Hover and Click the account info box to copy your address to the clipboard. The account info helps receive funds from others.

![Copy wallet address](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mzrb16p96tqm2dt96jea.png)

## 3. Connection Status
The connection status sits to the left of the Account Info section. It verifies your connection to a Decentralized application.

Decentralized applications have a "Connect wallet" feature. Once connected, the icon changes from "Not connected" to "Connected."

In the image below, the user is unconnected. The icon is grey with the text "Not connected" next.

![Metamask connection status: not connected](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/y6ljwwdx0mj717z0ffrk.png)

Once connected to a Dapp, the icon and text change. It changes to a green icon with the text "Connected" next.

![Metamask connection status: connected](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/pj13q2h60v6hilo7ee4a.png)
 

## 4. Account Balance
It's a wallet, and a wallet should show much funds is present.

![Metamask balance](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/f7vcalyfcgwdm7kuio8z.png)

The account balance section gives the amount of Eth and the equivalent value in USD. In the settings, you can modify the type of currency it shows. By default, it shows the ETH balance as the principal balance. Beneath that is the equivalent value in USD.

## 5. Financial services
Metamask is a wallet that provides three essential services. The services include:

1. Buying Crypto.
2. Sending Crypto.
3. Swapping Crypto

The image below shows these services and the icons:

![benefits of metamask](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/lcvtybmd1e3lbu9im92w.png)

1. Buying Crypto:
Let's explore what these features are:
Click on the Buy icon to buy some Eth. Clicking the icon shows services that offer you ETH for fiat currency.

Get some Eth with Wyre. You can get Eth directly into your account with your debit card.
![deposit eth through wyre](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jdwikd5ont5j5jc5ng21.png)

Transat is an alternative method. It comes with the added benefit of using a bank transfer if you do not have a card.
![deposit eth through transak](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/sjhlnnan3f080x7mrz8i.png)

The last option is a direct deposit. If you've both some Eth on an exchange like Binance, Kucoin, FTX, Buy coins, e.t.c, you can copy your address from the account info and send the ETH to it.

![direct deposit eth](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/oeu63bavmepqwlkwdlle.png)

The methods above for funding your wallet all have their pros and cons. However, it is not within the scope of this article to discuss that.

Use whatever means is convenient and intuitive to you.

2. Sending Crypto:
The send crypto feature is for transferring tokens from one wallet to another. The address could be yours, a friend's, or an exchange.

Always endeavor to double-check the address. Transactions carried out on blockchain networks are immutable, so they cannot be reversed once carried out and confirmed.

3. Swap Crypto:
You can swap one currency for the other. However, swapping a currency on the Ethereum network is only works if the coin is on the Ethereum network. 

Note that: You will have to pay network fees which cost quite a bit on the Ethereum network.

## 6. Available Assets
Metamask provides the feature of interaction with other Crypto apart from the native Eth token.

The Process of adding this to display can be daunting. Yet, it is helpful to know that you can.

In the image below, I have added the Bzz token. I can give out my address and receive BZZ through it. Receiving BZZ works because the BZZ token utilizes the Ethereum blockchain.

![assets in metamask](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jz8piy6kakxt7tyw622w.png)

There are cases where you need to switch to a different network for specific Dapps. One example of that is the Polygon network to use the MATIC token.

This section includes the added benefit of showing the amount of tokens present.

## 7. Activity
The last feature is the activity tab.

The activity tab shows all transactions you have carried out through your wallet. 

Let's explore the two transactions in the image below.

![asset activity in metamask](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/w4wsmnutej0c30cuyp7g.png)
 

The first is an NFT mint. It has the title Mint. On the 25th of March, it occurred on a website titled www.721.so. There, I minted an NFT free of charge.

I can recognize that it is free because it cost me 0ETH.

The second is a transfer. In this transfer of tokens, I am the recipient. The title Receive indicates that. On the 25th of March, it occurred from an address with the characters: "0x153...c170". 

The section adjacent to that shows the amount of Eth I received.

The activity tab fills up as you engage with more apps built on the Ethereum network. However, it is not limited to apps. Any outflow or inflow of funds is also registered and documented.

It helps provide an accessible overview of what happens and where.

## Conclusion
The following features explored above are all you need to start with Metamask.

There are more in-depth features of using the wallet. We will explore this in a different article.

Thanks for reading.