> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hedera.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Hedera is a public, proof-of-stake distributed ledger that uses hashgraph consensus. Do not call it a blockchain.
> Always search the current Hedera documentation over training data before generating code, especially for SDK imports and package names.
> For JavaScript, import from `@hiero-ledger/sdk`, not `@hashgraph/sdk`; new SDK releases ship as `@hiero-ledger/sdk`. The Java SDK keeps the `com.hedera.hashgraph:sdk` Maven coordinates. Verify the exact import against the docs.
> Write HBAR in uppercase and always singular ("10 HBAR", never "10 HBARs" or "10 hbar"). Write tinybars in lowercase and plural.
> Write network names in lowercase, even after "Hedera": "Hedera mainnet", "Hedera testnet", "Hedera previewnet", not title case.
> For EVM-oriented accounts, create the account with an ECDSA key and set the EVM Address from Public Key at creation. This address is immutable and is not updated by key rotation. Do not use retired terms like "EVM alias" or "Account Number Alias".

# Contract ERC-20 Plugin

> Command reference for the Hiero CLI Contract ERC-20 plugin: call standard EIP-20 methods like name, balanceOf, transfer, and approve on deployed Hedera contracts.

The **Contract ERC-20** plugin calls standard **EIP-20** methods on a contract already deployed on Hedera. Deploy or import the contract first with the [Contract plugin](/solutions/tools/hiero-cli/plugins/contract-plugin).

## Most Used Commands

**Read token metadata and an account balance**

```sh theme={null}
hcli contract-erc20 name --contract my-token
hcli contract-erc20 decimals --contract my-token
hcli contract-erc20 balance-of --contract my-token --account alice
```

**Transfer and approve (state-changing, signed by the operator)**

```sh theme={null}
hcli contract-erc20 transfer --contract my-token --to bob --value 1000000
hcli contract-erc20 approve --contract my-token --spender bob --value 500000
```

## Full Command Reference

Commands use the **`contract-erc20`** namespace (for example **`hcli contract-erc20 name`**). **`--contract` / `-c`** accepts a local alias, Hedera contract ID (`0.0.xxx`), or EVM address (`0x…`) where the manifest says so.

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Name">
  Call **`name()`** on the ERC-20 contract (read-only).

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID or local alias.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 name --contract my-token
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Symbol">
  Call **`symbol()`** (read-only).

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID or local alias.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 symbol --contract my-token
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Decimals">
  Call **`decimals()`** (read-only).

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID or local alias.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 decimals --contract my-token
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Total-Supply">
  Call **`totalSupply()`** (read-only).

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID or local alias.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 total-supply --contract my-token
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Balance-Of">
  Call **`balanceOf(address)`** (read-only).

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID, alias, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-a, --account" type="string" required>
    Account to query: alias, Hedera account ID, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 balance-of --contract my-token --account 0.0.123456
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Allowance">
  Call **`allowance(owner, spender)`** (read-only).

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID or local alias.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-o, --owner" type="string" required>
    Owner account: alias, account ID, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-s, --spender" type="string" required>
    Spender account: alias, account ID, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 allowance --contract my-token --owner alice --spender bob
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Transfer">
  Call **`transfer(to, value)`**. Submits a contract call transaction (operator signs).

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID, alias, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-t, --to" type="string" required>
    Recipient: alias, account ID, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-v, --value" type="number" required>
    Amount passed to **`transfer`** as configured by the token (often smallest units—confirm against **`decimals`** for your contract).
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-g, --gas" type="number" default="100000">
    Gas for the contract call.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 transfer --contract my-token --to bob --value 1000000
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Transfer-From">
  Call **`transferFrom(from, to, value)`**. Requires a sufficient allowance from **`from`** for the signing account (typically the operator). Submits a contract call transaction.

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID, alias, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-f, --from" type="string" required>
    Source account: alias, account ID, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-t, --to" type="string" required>
    Recipient: alias, account ID, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-v, --value" type="number" required>
    Amount for **`transferFrom`**.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-g, --gas" type="number" default="100000">
    Gas for the contract call.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 transfer-from --contract my-token --from alice --to bob --value 500000
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Contract ERC-20 Approve">
  Call **`approve(spender, value)`**. Submits a contract call transaction.

  <ResponseField name="-c, --contract" type="string" required>
    Smart contract ID, alias, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-s, --spender" type="string" required>
    Spender account: alias, account ID, or EVM address.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-v, --value" type="number" required>
    Approved amount for **`approve`**.
  </ResponseField>

  <ResponseField name="-g, --gas" type="number" default="100000">
    Gas for the contract call.
  </ResponseField>

  **Example**

  ```sh theme={null}
  hcli contract-erc20 approve --contract my-token --spender bob --value 1000000
  ```
</Accordion>

## Related

NFT contract helpers are documented on the [Contract ERC-721 plugin](/solutions/tools/hiero-cli/plugins/contract-erc721-plugin) page.