1. Insufficient Gas Limit

One of the most common reasons for transaction failure is setting an insufficient gas limit. If the gas limit is too low, the transaction will run out of gas and fail.

const tx = {
    to: "0xRecipientAddress",
    value: ethers.utils.parseEther("0.01"),
    gasLimit: 21000 // Ensure this is sufficient for the transaction
};

try {
    const txResponse = await signer.sendTransaction(tx);
    await txResponse.wait();
} catch (error) {
    console.error("Transaction failed:", error);
}
    

2. Reverted Transactions

Transactions can fail if they revert due to conditions in the smart contract. This can happen if the contract logic is not satisfied, such as failing a require statement.

try {
    const txResponse = await contract.someFunction();
    await txResponse.wait();
} catch (error) {
    console.error("Transaction reverted:", error);
}
    

3. Invalid Parameters

Passing invalid parameters to a function can lead to transaction failures. Always validate inputs before sending a transaction.

const invalidAddress = "0xInvalidAddress";
if (!ethers.utils.isAddress(invalidAddress)) {
    console.error("Invalid Ethereum address:", invalidAddress);
} else {
    // Proceed with the transaction
}
    

4. Nonce Issues

Each transaction has a nonce, which is a unique identifier. If you try to send a transaction with a nonce that has already been used, it will fail.

const nonce = await provider.getTransactionCount(signer.getAddress());
const tx = {
    to: "0xRecipientAddress",
    value: ethers.utils.parseEther("0.01"),
    nonce: nonce // Ensure this is the correct nonce
};

try {
    const txResponse = await signer.sendTransaction(tx);
    await txResponse.wait();
} catch (error) {
    console.error("Transaction failed due to nonce issue:", error);
}
    

5. Insufficient Funds

Transactions will fail if the sender does not have enough Ether to cover the transaction value and gas fees.

const balance = await provider.getBalance(signer.getAddress());
const txValue = ethers.utils.parseEther("0.01");
if (balance.lt(txValue)) {
    console.error("Insufficient funds for transaction");
} else {
    // Proceed with the transaction
}
    

6. Network Issues

Network connectivity issues can also cause transaction failures. Ensure that you are connected to the correct Ethereum network and that your provider is functioning properly.

try {
    const network = await provider.getNetwork();
    console.log("Connected to network:", network.name);
} catch (error) {
    console.error("Network error:", error);
}
    

7. Contract Not Deployed

If you are trying to interact with a smart contract that has not been deployed, the transaction will fail. Always ensure the contract address is valid and deployed.

const contractAddress = "0xYourContractAddress";
const contract = new ethers.Contract(contractAddress, contractABI, signer);
try {
    const result = await contract.someFunction();
} catch (error) {
    console.error("Contract interaction failed:", error);
}
    

Conclusion

By understanding these common causes of transaction failures in Ethers.js, you can better troubleshoot and resolve issues in your Ethereum applications.