User:DiEvAl/Data Values

These data values refer to the different types of blocks and items. They are used in many, many places in Minecraft. Block IDs are used to define blocks placed in the world and inventory items (including items in chests and items dropped in the world). Item IDs are only valid for items. Each inventory slot has a unique slot number. In a Beta world, 4-bit metadata further defines blocks placed, describing, for example, the height of water or the direction a torch points. In Beta inventory 16-bit data further defines items or blocks. It is used, for example, for tool damge or dye color.

Block IDs (Minecraft Beta)
These values apply to blocks both in inventory and placed in the world. This reflects the most recent version. Entries marked with a D require metadata to fully define the block in a Beta world. Entries marked with an I have a different ID as an inventory item. Entries marked with a B require additional inventory data to fully define the inventory item. Items with IDs in red cannot be legitimately obtained in the player's inventory in the game; they can only be obtained by "hacking" (such as the use of Inventory editors) or, in multiplayer using the /give server command. Removed items are green. (Examples of removed but special items are: April Fools' Locked Chest, Collectors' items, testing items, etc.)

Block IDs (Minecraft Classic)
These values apply to blocks placed in the world in Minecraft Classic. Since versions since Minecraft Classic have drastically increased the number of blocks, and removed or re-used Block IDs, Minecraft Classic has its own list. Items with IDs in red cannot be legitimately obtained in the player's inventory in the game; they can only be obtained by "hacking" (such as the use of Game cheat codes) or, in multiplayer using the /give server command.

Item IDs
All items have values above 255, making it easy to separate the Block IDs from the Item IDs. Entries marked with a D require additional data to fully define the item in a inventory. The chainmail set is currently unobtainable without hacking or, in multiplayer, the /give server command.

Data
Special data for certain block and item types. Storage differs according to level format.

Fire
0x0 is a placed or spread fire. Once it reaches 0xF the eternal fire-trick will work since there will be no further updates of the block

Leaves
If bit 0x4 is set, the leaves will be checked for decay. The bit will be cleared after the check if the leaves do not decay. The bit will be set again whenever a block adjacent to the leaves is changed.

Prior to Beta 1.5
Prior to Beta 1.5, this data value was a counter which started at 0x0 (for a freshly-planted sapling) and was increased at random intervals. Once the counter hit 15, a new tree was created in its place.

Beta 1.5 and after
As of Beta 1.5, the data value is split in half. The bottom two bits now determine the type of sapling (and thus the eventual tree type), according to the following table:

The top two bits function as the counter, as in pre-1.5 builds, though obviously there are only four values available in the remaining bits. Either the counter is incremented more slowly to compensate, or trees might just grow more quickly since the update.

Cacti and Sugar Canes
0x0 is a freshly planted plant. The data value is incremented at random intervals. When it becomes 15, a new cactus/sugar cane block is created on top as long as the total height does not exceed 3 (for cacti) or 4 (for sugar canes).

Water and Lava
0x0 is a full block. Water goes up to 0x7, Lava goes up to 0x6 (using the steps 0x0, 0x2, 0x4 and 0x6). If bit 0x8 is set, this liquid is "falling" and only spreads downward.

Farmland
0x0 is dry land, 0x1-0x8 are increasing levels of wetness. The wetness value depends on how far the block is away from water.

Crops
Crops grow from 0x0 to 0x7 (Pictured below).



Wool
Note: Only the default wool block - block ID #35 - can be spawned using the /give method. The materials for dying wool must be spawned or collected in order to get colored wool.

These values specify the color of the wool. This data is stored in block metadata for placed wool, and as the "damage" for wool in the inventory.

Rails
Regular Minecart rails use values above 0x5 for the corner pieces. For powered rails, 0x8 is a bit flag indicating whether or not it is powered, and the bottom three bits have a valid range of 0x0 to 0x5.


 * 0x0: flat track going east-west
 * 0x1: flat track going north-south
 * 0x2: track ascending to the south
 * 0x3: track ascending to the north
 * 0x4: track ascending to the east
 * 0x5: track ascending to the west

Regular minecart tracks can make a circle from four rails:
 * 0x6: Northeast corner (connecting south and west)
 * 0x7: Southeast corner (connecting north and west)
 * 0x8: Southwest corner (connecting north and east)
 * 0x9: Northwest corner (connecting south and east)

Torches and Redstone Torches

 * 0x1: Pointing south
 * 0x2: Pointing north
 * 0x3: Pointing west
 * 0x4: Pointing east
 * 0x5: Standing on the floor

Ladders

 * 0x2: Attached to the east side of a block
 * 0x3: West side of a block
 * 0x4: North side
 * 0x5: South side

Stairs

 * 0x0: Ascending south
 * 0x1: Ascending north
 * 0x2: Ascending west
 * 0x3: Ascending east

Levers

 * 0x8: If this bit is set, the lever has been thrown and is providing power.

Wall levers:
 * 0x1: Facing south
 * 0x2: Facing north
 * 0x3: Facing west
 * 0x4: Facing east

Ground levers:
 * 0x5: Lever points west when off.
 * 0x6: Lever points south when off. (Note that unlike the other types of switch, this version will not power wires around the block it is sitting on.)

Doors
The two least significant bits are the orientation of the door, that is, the corner in which its hinge is positioned:
 * 0x0: Northeast corner
 * 0x1: Southeast corner
 * 0x2: Southwest corner
 * 0x3: Northwest corner

The two bits above are flags:
 * 0x8: If this bit is set, this is the top half of a door (else the lower half).
 * 0x4: If this bit is set, the door has swung counterclockwise around its hinge.

For example, the bottom half of a door with its hinge on the northwest corner, which is swung so that it is closed when viewed from the north, will have a data value of (3 | 4) = (3 + 4) = 7.

Buttons

 * 0x8 If this bit is set, the button has been pressed. If this bit is set in a saved level, the button will remain pressed for an undefined length of time after the level is loaded.

Button direction:
 * 0x1: Facing west
 * 0x2: Facing east
 * 0x3: Facing south
 * 0x4: Facing north

Sign Posts

 * 0x0: West
 * 0x1: West-Northwest
 * 0x2: Northwest
 * 0x3: North-Northwest
 * 0x4: North
 * 0x5: North-Northeast
 * 0x6: Northeast
 * 0x7: East-Northeast
 * 0x8: East
 * 0x9: East-Southeast
 * 0xA: Southeast
 * 0xB: South-Southeast
 * 0xC: South
 * 0xD: South-Southwest
 * 0xE: Southwest
 * 0xF: West-Southwest

Wall Signs

 * 0x2: Facing east
 * 0x3: Facing west
 * 0x4: Facing north
 * 0x5: Facing south

Furnaces and Dispensers

 * 0x2: Facing east
 * 0x3: Facing west
 * 0x4: Facing north
 * 0x5: Facing south

Pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns

 * 0x0: Facing east
 * 0x1: Facing south
 * 0x2: Facing west
 * 0x3: Facing north

Pressure Plates

 * 0x1: If this bit is set, the plate is pressed.

Cake

 * 0x0: 0 pieces eaten
 * 0x1: 1 piece eaten
 * 0x2: 2 pieces eaten
 * 0x3: 3 pieces eaten
 * 0x4: 4 pieces eaten
 * 0x5: 5 pieces eaten

Beds

 * 0x0: Head is pointing West
 * 0x1: Head is pointing North
 * 0x2: Head is pointing East
 * 0x3: Head is pointing South


 * 0x8: (bit flag) - When 0, the foot of the bed. When 1, the head of the bed.

Redstone Repeater
Low (1st & 2nd) bits:
 * 0x0: Facing east
 * 0x1: Facing south
 * 0x2: Facing west
 * 0x3: Facing north

High (3rd & 4th) bits:
 * 0x0: 1 tick delay
 * 0x1: 2 tick delay
 * 0x2: 3 tick delay
 * 0x3: 4 tick delay

Redstone Wire
0xF is a wire placed right next to a power source (like a redstone torch). The value declines with distance until 0x0, which is a non-powered wire. The direction of the wire is not saved but calculated at runtime.

Trapdoors
0x4 is a bit that determines whether or not the trapdoor is swung open. 0 for closed (on the ground), 1 for open (against its connecting wall). The remaining two bits describe which wall the trapdoor is attached to:
 * 0x0: Attached to the West wall
 * 0x1: Attached to the East wall
 * 0x2: Attached to the South wall
 * 0x3: Attached to the North wall