# Writing scripts with Hardhat

Description: How to write and run Hardhat scripts

Note: This document was authored using MDX

  Source: https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat-website/tree/main/src/content/docs/docs/guides/writing-scripts.mdx

  Components used in this page:
    - <Run cmd="..."/>: Runs a command in the terminal with npm/pnpm/yarn.

import Run from "@hh/Run.astro";

In this guide, we'll walk through creating a script with Hardhat. For a general overview of using Hardhat, refer to the [getting started guide](/docs/getting-started).

You can write your own custom scripts that use all of Hardhat's functionality. For example, in this guide, we'll create a script that prints the list of available accounts.

## Writing a script

Hardhat is designed as a library, so you can use it in any TypeScript or JavaScript file. All you need to do is import the [Hardhat Runtime Environment](/docs/explanations/hardhat-runtime-environment) like this:

```ts
import hre from "hardhat";
```

This gives you access to all of Hardhat's functionality.

Let's try this out. Create a new directory called `scripts` in your project's root directory, and inside it, create a file called `accounts.ts` with the following content:

```ts
// scripts/accounts.ts
import hre from "hardhat";

const { provider } = await hre.network.create();
const accounts = await provider.request({ method: "eth_accounts" });

if (accounts !== null) {
  for (const account of accounts) {
    console.log(account);
  }
} else {
  console.log("No accounts found");
}
```

And you can run it like this:

<Run command="hardhat run scripts/accounts.ts" />

When you do this, Hardhat will compile your contracts before running the script.

## Running a Hardhat script without the Hardhat CLI

You can also run your scripts as standalone TypeScript files with Node.js, like this:

```sh
node scripts/accounts.ts
```

This lets you skip the Hardhat CLI if you want, and use Hardhat from other Node.js tools, like [`vitest`](https://vitest.dev).

### Passing Global Option values to standalone scripts

When running a standalone script, you can pass any Hardhat Global Option to the script by setting a `HARDHAT_<GLOBAL_OPTION>` environment variable:

- `HARDHAT_NETWORK`: Sets the network to connect to

- `HARDHAT_BUILD_PROFILE`: Specifies which build profile to use

- `HARDHAT_VERBOSITY`: Sets the verbosity level that controls the [execution traces](/docs/guides/execution-traces) shown when running the script

To view the full list of Global Options available in Hardhat, run:

<Run command="hardhat --help" />

## Debugging scripts with execution traces

When your script connects to a simulated network, you can use the `--verbosity` (or `-v`) flag to show execution traces. For example, `-vvv` shows traces for failing transactions:

<Run command="hardhat run scripts/deploy.ts -vvv" />

To see traces for all transactions, use `-vvvvv`:

<Run command="hardhat run scripts/deploy.ts -vvvvv" />

Execution traces show the sequence of contract function calls, making it easier to debug deployment scripts and understand complex interactions. See the [Displaying execution traces guide](/docs/guides/execution-traces) for more details.