Ladder

Ladders are solid blocks used for climbing walls either vertically or horizontally. They can be placed only on the sides of other blocks.

Breaking
Ladders can be broken using any tool, but an axe is the quickest.

Natural generation
Ladders occur naturally in library rooms of strongholds and in intersection rooms with a wooden ceiling. Ladders can also be found in village structures such as plains and taiga temples and many small or medium houses, as well as in churches. They may also be found leading to the basements of igloos, in end ships on the pillar leading up to the crow's nest, and in rail rooms of woodland mansions. Ladders also generate in ancient cities.

Usage
Ladders provide a way to cushion a player's impact after a free fall. Upon entering a ladder's area of effect, the player's speed is reduced instantly to normal ladder descent speed and no damage is taken. Falling onto the narrow top surface of the ladder incurs falling damage as normal.

Holding the key while climbing a ladder causes the player to grab hold of the ladder and not fall off. While the player is holding on to a ladder, mining speed decreases.

Any mob can climb a ladder in the same way a player does: by pushing against it. Mobs are not smart enough to use ladders deliberately — they do not remain on a ladder to get somewhere, but a ladder directly in their path lets them climb up.

Placement
Ladders can be placed on any full solid block face.

Ladders displace lava blocks to create an air pocket and can be used instead of glass to let lava light shine through a ceiling. They also displace flowing water, but a ladder placed inside a water source block becomes waterlogged and does not create an air pocket.

Climbing
A ladder takes effect whenever the player's lower half is in the block occupied by a ladder. These effects are:
 * If the player pushes against a wall, the player moves upward at about 2.35 blocks per second instead of horizontally. (Thus inside a 1×1 ladder shaft, the player can use any movement key to move upward.)
 * If a player occupies the 1×1 ladder shaft, the player can ascend the ladder by holding instead of using a horizontal movement key.
 * If a player moving perpendicular to the ladder block enters the ladder block, the player begins to move upward, but then falls off the ladder shortly afterward if the player continues to move horizontally.
 * The player's maximum downward speed is reduced to a "descending ladder" speed, at about 3 blocks per second.
 * The player's horizontal movement friction is the same as on ice. (That is, moving around in the tiny space the player is in while still hanging on the ladder at the same level.)

Additionally:
 * In Bedrock Edition, a player can hold down the jump button while climbing a ladder to make the climbing speed faster.
 * Also in Bedrock Edition, waterlogged ladders cannot be climbed.
 * In Java Edition, when a trapdoor is placed directly above a ladder and opened, the trapdoor also becomes climbable.
 * A player on a slab in front of the ladder must jump to get on the ladder despite being only 1/2 block down.
 * Like vines, ladders slow the player down when walked through.
 * Consuming food, blocking with a shield or pulling back a bow, do not slow the player down while climbing ladders (unlike when walking, sprinting and swimming).

Fuel
A ladder can be used as fuel in furnaces, smelting 1.5 items per ladder.

ID




Trivia

 * It is possible to use ladders one block apart in a corner by placing every other ladder on the alternating side of the corner. This method requires jumping and shifting sides constantly.
 * By holding the jump key, players can still use water ladders that have ladders placed every other block.
 * If the player stops on a ladder and places a sign, the player remains in midair without having to hold Shift, because the game is paused in singleplayer. This does not work in multiplayer because the game is not paused.
 * Attempting to place a ladder on a spot another ladder occupies may instead place the ladder somewhere nearby (because of the ladder's hitbox).
 * It is possible to remove a ladder while standing on a ladder and holding the sneak key, but it can take a long time because the countdown for breaking the ladder often resets.
 * In Java Edition, sticks can be crafted into ladders to gain a slight bonus in fuel efficiency. While 7 sticks can smelt 3.5 items, if they are crafted into 3 ladders, 4.5 items can be smelted.