Sneaking

Sneaking is a feature introduced in the 1st Seecret Saturday update on September 18th, 2010 (Alpha 1.1.1). While holding the Shift key, the player enters sneaking mode. Sneaking was originally called crouching; however, the player's hitbox doesn't change from the normal standing height. Mobs will still notice the player no matter what.

Sneaking prevents players from falling off ledges, making it primarily useful for building horizontally outwards from high ledges by looking over the lip.

On a Macintosh computer, the hotkey can be changed from Shift to CapsLock to sneak without having to hold down a key. On a Windows the sneak hotkey must be held and then ALT must be pressed while still holding it. This will freeze the game, but if ALT is pressed again after the key is released then the sneaking permanent until the sneak hotkey is pressed (AND released) again. Bringing up the inventory or menu will revert the status to walking, as will pressing the chat hotkey or interacting with a furnace, crafting bench, or dispensor. This method works in both windowed and fullscreen mode. (Note: this applies to other commands too, like walking or jumping.)

Also, if the the sneak hotkey is pressed at EXACTLY the same time as the chat hotkey, then you will be crouching in chat. This is very useful if you want to afk but remain hidden from players, because when chat is activated the mouse is released.

When you walk too far towards the edge of the block while sneaking, you will not fall down but your character will be outside the block you are standing on. Therefore if you release Shift, you will fall down. This is useful however for making bridges, since being outside the block allows you to see it's edge, which you may easily click.

Effects

 * The character moves slower.
 * The character appears to be bending over.
 * No sound is made when walking.
 * Players cannot fall off ledges.
 * Stairs and steps cannot be walked up but can be walked down.
 * Players cannot sneak from Soul Sand to any other material at the same level.
 * Crops won't be trampled. (NOTE: Wet soil will be trampled to dirt. Unknown if this is a bug. Noticed it in 1.2.2)
 * The camera angle slightly lowers.
 * Pressing the F key to change the fog level will reverse the fog level order while sneaking.
 * Other players in Survival Multiplayer cannot see your name through walls.
 * Other players in Survival Multiplayer cannot see your name when you are closer than when standing up.

Bugs

 * Players can still fall off half-steps.
 * If you are sneaking and you exit to the menu and then go back into your map, your character sinks into the block you're standing on.