Bow

The bow is a weapon that can be crafted in Indev, Infdev, and Alpha. In Survival the player doesn't need a bow to shoot arrows.

Using the Bow
To use a bow in Indev, Infdev, or Alpha it must be the active item (in your hand) and there must be arrows in the player's inventory. Then simply right-click to use; the bow will shoot the arrows.

In survival, the player has no bow to hold so the Tab key is used to fire arrows. However, arrows must still be collected to shoot.

Arrows
Arrows can be fired from a distance and in rapid succession. They will fly in a parabola and will travel approximately 15 blocks when fired parallel to a flat plane. Arrows have a maximum range of around 50 blocks when fired at a 45 degree angle on a flat plane, though they will travel farther if the terrain is sloped downwards. Arrows deal two hearts of damage if they successfully hit the target.

Arrows will also stick into objects they come in contact with and remain for a short while before disappearing; the distance from the object and the angle determine how far up the arrow will be. They can bounce off entities like mine carts and damage immune mobs. It is possible for players to damage themselves with arrows if they move into the path of the arrow. When shot directly upwards arrows appear to travel approximately 25 blocks before falling.

An Arrow fired by the player that either misses the a mob or hits an object is retrievable, and therefore can be used again. Arrows fired by Skeletons are special entities, unusable by the player. These arrows may not be retrieved.

Arrows are dropped by killing Skeletons, or can be crafted via a combination of Flint, Sticks and Feathers.

Shooting an arrow through lava will set the arrow on fire.