At the beginning of most flows, we create an `ocean` object, which is an instance of class [`Ocean`](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py/blob/main/ocean\_lib/ocean/ocean.py). It exposes useful information, including the following.
<summary><ahref="https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py/blob/main/ocean_lib/ocean/ocean.py#L43"><code>Ocean</code> - The Ocean class is the entry point into Ocean Protocol.</a></summary>
In order to initialize a Ocean object, you must provide `config_dict` which is a `Dictionary` instance and optionally a `DataServiceProvider` instance.
[Here ](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py/blob/main/ocean\_lib/ocean/ocean.py#LL43C1-L96C53)is the source code.
{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```python
class Ocean:
"""The Ocean class is the entry point into Ocean Protocol."""
<summary><ahref="https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py/blob/main/ocean_lib/ocean/ocean.py#LL265C1-L268C32"><code>ocean.config_dict</code> or <code>ocean.config -> dict</code></a></summary>
It is a helper method for retrieving the user's configuration for ocean.py.\
It can be called only by Ocean object and returns a python dictionary.
It is a helper method for retrieving the OCEAN's token address.\
It can be called only by Ocean object and returns the address as a `string`.
```python
@property
@enforce_types
def OCEAN_address(self) -> str:
return get_ocean_token_address(self.config)
```
[`get_ocean_token_address`](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py/blob/main/ocean\_lib/ocean/util.py#LL31C1-L38C89) function is an utilitary function which gets the address from `address.json` file
"""Returns the Ocean token address for given network or web3 instance
Requires either network name or web3 instance.
"""
addresses = get_contracts_addresses(config_dict)
return Web3.toChecksumAddress(addresses.get("Ocean").lower()) if addresses else None
```
{% endcode %}
</details>
<details>
<summary><ahref="https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py/blob/main/ocean_lib/ocean/ocean.py#LL105C1-L113C32"><code>ocean.OCEAN_token</code> or <code>ocean.OCEAN -> Datatoken</code></a></summary>
It is a helper method for retrieving the OCEAN token object (Datatoken class).\
It can be called within Ocean class and returns the OCEAN Datatoken.
It is a getter for a specific `datatoken` object based on its checksumed address.\
It can be called within Ocean class with a string `token_address` as parameter which returns the `DatatokenBase` instance depending on datatoken's template index.
Calls Provider to generate provider fees as dictionary for compute service.
As parameters:
1.`datasets` - list of `ComputeInput` which contains the data assets
2.`algorithm_data` - necessary data for algorithm and it can be either a `ComputeInput` object, either just the algorithm metadata, `AlgorithmMetadata`
3.`consumer_address` - address of the compute consumer wallet which is requesting the provider fees
4.`compute_environment` - id provided from the compute environment as `string`
5.`valid_until` - timestamp in UNIX miliseconds for the duration of provider fees for the compute service.
Through datatoken, you can deploy a new dispenser schema which is used for creating free assets, because its behaviour is similar with a faucet. ⛲
It is implemented in DatatokenBase, inherited by Datatoken2, so it can be called within both instances.
Each parameter has the following meaning:
1.`tx_dict` - is the configuration for that specific transaction. Usually for `development` we include just the `from` wallet, but for remote networks, you can provide gas fees, required confirmations for that block etc. For more info, check [Brownie docs](https://eth-brownie.readthedocs.io/en/stable/).
2.`max_tokens` - maximum amount of tokens to dispense in wei
3.`max_balance` - maximum balance of requester in wei
4.`with_mint` - boolean, `true` if we want to allow the dispenser to be a minter as default value
Return value is a hex string which denotes the transaction hash of dispenser deployment.
```python
@enforce_types
def create_dispenser(
self,
tx_dict: dict,
max_tokens: Optional[Union[int, str]] = None,
max_balance: Optional[Union[int, str]] = None,
with_mint: Optional[bool] = True,
):
"""
For this datataken, create a dispenser faucet for free tokens.
This wraps the smart contract method Datatoken.createDispenser()
with a simpler interface.
:param: max_tokens - max # tokens to dispense, in wei
This function is used to retrieve funds or datatokens for an user who wants to access an asset.
It is implemented in DatatokenBase, so it can be called within Datatoken class.
Each parameter has the following meaning:
1.`amount` - amount of datatokens to be dispensed in wei (int or string format)
2.`tx_dict` - is the configuration for that specific transaction. Usually for `development` we include just the `from` wallet, but for remote networks, you can provide gas fees, required confirmations for that block etc. For more info, check [Brownie docs](https://eth-brownie.readthedocs.io/en/stable/).
Return value is a hex string which denotes the transaction hash of dispensed datatokens, like a proof.
This function is used to retrieve funds or datatokens for an user who wants to access an asset.
It is implemented in Datatoken2, so it can be called within Datatoken2 class (using the enterprise template).
Each parameter has the following meaning:
1.`amount` - amount of datatokens to be dispensed in wei (int or string format)
2.`tx_dict` - is the configuration for that specific transaction. Usually for `development` we include just the `from` wallet, but for remote networks, you can provide gas fees, required confirmations for that block etc. For more info, check [Brownie docs](https://eth-brownie.readthedocs.io/en/stable/).
Return value is a hex string which denotes the transaction hash of dispensed datatokens, like a proof.
