Gold Ingot

Gold ingots are metal ingots used to craft various items.

Zombie pigmen
Zombie pigmen have a 2.5% chance of dropping a gold ingot if killed by a player or tamed wolf. The chance is increased by 1% per level of Looting, for a maximum of 5.5% with Looting III.

Drowned
$$, drowned have a 5% chance of dropping a gold ingot, 6% with Looting I, 7% with Looting II, and 8% with Looting III.

$$, drowned have a 11% chance of dropping either a gold ingot, or trident when killed by a player. This is increased by 2% per level of looting. This gives gold ingots the following chances of dropping:
 * $11/200$ (5.5%)
 * $13/200$ (6.5%) with Looting I
 * $3/40$ (7.5%) with Looting II
 * $17/200$ (about 8.5%) with Looting III

Crafting ingredient
As a material for weapons, tools, and armor, gold is not a straight upgrade from iron (except in the case of horse armor). Gold has a higher mining speed and enchantability than any other material, but attack power and durability tends to be low. The golden pickaxe can harvest only those blocks that are harvestable by a wooden pickaxe.

Trading
Apprentice-level cleric villager buy 3 gold ingots for an emerald as part of their trade.

Repairing
Golden helmets, chestplates, leggings, boots, swords, pickaxes, axes, hoes and shovels can be repaired with gold ingots in an anvil.

Bartering
Piglins will throw the player item(s) if the player throws or the gold ingot on it.

Beacons
Gold ingots can be used to select powers from a beacon. The player must select one of the available powers, and then insert an ingot in the item slot.

A gold ingot can be substituted for an iron ingot or netherite ingot, an emerald, or a diamond.

Trivia

 * Gold ingots are the only ingots in the game that is used alongside another item to craft another type of ingot ( in this case, it is used with Netherite Scrap to craft a Netherite Ingot ).