Merge f41ccee into 3684fc3

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ Released with 1.0.0-beta.37 code base.
   - Removed old bower and meteor artifacts
   - Moved logo assets to own folder
   - Moved github assets to own folder
+- *Please note*: Geth [v1.9.12](https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/releases/tag/v1.9.12) contains a breaking change for `eth_call` that will not default to your first account anymore if `from` is not set. If a sender is not explicitly defined, the `eth_call` will be executed from `address(0)`. (#3467)
+  - This was done to avoid the same input behaving differently in different environments. You should never do `eth_call` without explicitly setting a sender.
+  - This means that if you're calling `view` methods that refer to a `msg.sender` without explicitly setting a `from` address in your request options, you may see unexpected behavior.
+  - In `web3.js`, the `from` address can be specified on a per-call basis or by setting the `defaultAccount` property.
 
 ### Fixed
 

docs/web3-eth-contract.rst

@@ -745,14 +745,14 @@ methods.myMethod.call
 
     myContract.methods.myMethod([param1[, param2[, ...]]]).call(options[, callback])
 
-Will call a "constant" method and execute its smart contract method in the EVM without sending any transaction. Note calling can not alter the smart contract state.
+Will call a "constant" method and execute its smart contract method in the EVM without sending any transaction. Note calling cannot alter the smart contract state.
 
 ----------
 Parameters
 ----------
 
 1. ``options`` - ``Object`` (optional): The options used for calling.
-    * ``from`` - ``String`` (optional): The address the call "transaction" should be made from.
+    * ``from`` - ``String`` (optional): The address the call "transaction" should be made from. For calls the ``from`` property is optional however it is highly recommended to explicitly set it or it may default to `address(0)` depending on your node or provider.
     * ``gasPrice`` - ``String`` (optional): The gas price in wei to use for this call "transaction".
     * ``gas`` - ``Number`` (optional): The maximum gas provided for this call "transaction" (gas limit).
 2. ``callback`` - ``Function`` (optional): This callback will be fired with the result of the smart contract method execution as the second argument, or with an error object as the first argument.

docs/web3-eth.rst

@@ -1600,7 +1600,7 @@ Executes a message call transaction, which is directly executed in the VM of the
 Parameters
 ----------
 
-1. ``Object`` - A transaction object see :ref:`web3.eth.sendTransaction <eth-sendtransaction-return>`, with the difference that for calls the ``from`` property is optional as well.
+1. ``Object`` - A transaction object, see :ref:`web3.eth.sendTransaction <eth-sendtransaction-return>`. For calls the ``from`` property is optional however it is highly recommended to explicitly set it or it may default to `address(0)` depending on your node or provider.
 2. ``Number|String|BN|BigNumber`` - (optional) If you pass this parameter it will not use the default block set with :ref:`web3.eth.defaultBlock <eth-defaultblock>`. Pre-defined block numbers as ``"latest"``, ``"earliest"``, ``"pending"``, and ``"genesis"`` can also be used.
 3. ``Function`` - (optional) Optional callback, returns an error object as first parameter and the result as second.