[Snippet] Finding bytes of an account based on layout

[jacobcreech]

Section: Accounts

We need a snippet to find the size of an account based on the layout. We can use the layout's .span js/ts method from bufferLayout to get the size. Needs to be added

[anoushk1234]

Can you explain a bit more about the issue, I didn't quite understand

[jacobcreech]

@anoushk1234 Sure

So accounts are often denoted by structs in Rust, right? To create accounts, however, you need to know the size to allocate to that account given the variables within the account.

Let's take these instructions here https://github.com/solana-labs/solana/blob/master/web3.js/src/system-program.ts#L537

What you can do with this to find out the size of the account is SYSTEM_INSTRUCTION_LAYOUTS.Transfer.layout.span because it uses bufferLayout. This is often a very confusing part of writing the client

[harshkn]

You mean amount of bytes required for an instruction right ? not accounts. Am I understanding this correctly ?

[jacobcreech]

@harshkn The data field is used in instructions to create specific accounts. You need to know the size of the account the instruction is creating.