Item

Items are objects which do not exist outside of the player's inventory and hands i.e., they cannot be placed in the game world. Some items simply place blocks or entities into the game world when used. They are thus an item when in the inventory and a block when placed. Some examples of objects which inhibit these properties are item frames, which turn into an entity when placed, and beds, which turn into a block when placed.

Items use item IDs while blocks use block IDs.

Types

 * Raw materials are components that are used with or to construct other items.
 * Some materials are only dropped by mobs, making vanquishing them a necessity.
 * Others are derived from crafting, mining, or smelting, or a combination of the processes.


 * Food is found or crafted by the player and eaten to regain hunger points.


 * Potions are craftable drinkable items that confer specific effects.


 * Plants are items found growing in the environment (excluding Melon Seeds) that can be collected and planted on blocks that meet the conditions for growth particular to the plant.


 * Tools are primarily used to break blocks faster than mining by hand, and are required in order to retrieve resources from some blocks.
 * Buckets can transport liquids such as milk, lava, and water.
 * Fishing rods allow the player to go fishing, as well as to pull mobs closer. Also craftable to make Carrot on a stick made with a Fishing rod and carrot
 * Flint and steel is used to set flammable blocks on fire (for varying periods of time) and can be used to create a portal to the Nether. A Fire Charge also gives the same effect.
 * Saddles can be used to ride pigs along with a Carrot on a stick to control their movements.
 * Shears are used to collect wool from sheep, string from cobwebs, mushrooms from mooshrooms, tall grass, leaves, and vines.


 * Informative items, consisting of map, compass and clock, assist the player in the navigation of the landscape and the telling of time.


 * Weapons are used to defend the player from hostile mobs roaming a map or to kill passive mobs for food and materials.


 * Armor protects the player from several kinds of damage (mobs/players, lava, explosions, being in a fire block). A full set of armor is composed of a helmet, a chestplate, a pair of leggings, and a pair of boots.


 * Vehicles, such as minecarts and boats, allow the player or items to travel over land or water with relative speed and ease.


 * Decorations are items that only have aesthetic uses.

History
As of Beta 1.8.1, paintings, Music Discs, and wool blocks (the 16 different colors) are the only decorative items available. However, Ore Blocks (lapis lazuli, diamond, iron, gold and emerald blocks) can also be used as a form of decoration as well as storing materials.

As of 1.4.2., there were added item frames, heads and flower pots.

On December 11th, Dinnerbone tweeted a picture of diamonds being rendered in 3D as dropped items as well as tweeting that other items will also be rendered in this way, but only in fancy mode.