Item

Items, alongside Blocks, make up all usable resources in Minecraft. While blocks take on 3D appearances in inventory, items appear as 2d sprites, only having a small level of 3D when in the player's hand. Items first appeared in Indev and are only available in Indev, Infdev, Alpha and Beta. Notch has said everything from the current survival mode will be placeable in the future Creative mode, but how items will work remains to be seen. Notch has also mentioned that, if Minecraft wins the IndieDB vote, cake will be implemented.

Types of Items

 * Materials are items used in the construction of other items. While many blocks are used in the construction of items, this refers  specifically to items that are not blocks. Some mobs exclusively drop  materials, making killing them a necessity.
 * Food is eaten by the player to regain health. It can be acquired through killing pigs, finding mushrooms,  growing crops, raiding chests in dungeons, or  fishing.
 * Tools are items used by the player to interact with the environment. Tools are primarily used to break certain types of blocks faster than trying to break the block with the player's hands, and are required in order to retrieve resources from some blocks. Tools can also transport liquid and light Fires.
 * Weapons are wielded by the player to defend themselves from hostile mobs roaming a map, or to kill mobs for food or materials.
 * Armor protects players from damage of any kind besides suffocation; this includes mob attacks, falling, and even being on fire! A full set of armor includes a helmet, chestplate, leggings, and boots.
 * Vehicles are items used to aid the player to travel great distances with ease.
 * Music Discs/Records are items that when inserted into a Jukebox play a certain tune.
 * Decorations are items without any other purpose besides aesthetics, such as Paintings.