Functions allow players to run lists of commands using text files with the extension .mcfunction. It is recommended to use UTF-8 encoding (without BOM) for function files to prevent any problems.
Functions are part of data packs, they are located in (world name)/datapacks/(datapack name)/data/(namespace)/functions. They can be directly in the functions folder or in any sub-folder. For single player, the world folders can be found in .minecraft/saves. For multiplayer, functions must be placed in every world folder that wants to utilize them.
Functions can be accessed using their (namespace) and filepath after the functions/code> folder. For example, foo:bar/example will refer to the file located at datapacks/(datapack name)/data/foo/functions/bar/test.mcfunction. If the namespace is left out when trying to call a function, it will default to the minecraft: namespace. Using a custom namespace is recommended in order to prevent unintended behavior in the case of future additions to the default namespace.[1]
Functions, being text files, are easily modifiable and less likely than command blocks to induce lag when used in large quantities. If a function is modified or added, using the /reload command will reload the function files from disk. This allows Minecraft to recognize any changes to the function files, without the need to quit and re-enter the world.
Upon successfully running a function, a message will display in the chat: Executed [amount] command(s) from function '[function file directory]'. The successful output of the commands inside a function cannot be measured with a comparator (although the same effect could be accomplished with the use of /stats and /scoreboard commands).
Function syntax[]
Testing the function system. Three /tellraw messages and one /give command were used in this simple function.
Within the .mcfunction file, one valid command is placed per line, without the usual forward slash (/). Players can add comments within the function text file by preceding them with a #.
Individual commands in functions can be longer than the 32,500 character limit in command blocks but the total number of commands run inside a function will still obey /gamerule maxCommandChainLength, which is 65,536 commands by default; any commands beyond this limit will be ignored.
Running a function[]
Functions will run all of their commands in a single tick and functions called from within other functions will also run their commands in the same tick as their parent.
Position changes that happen within a function will not affect the relative coordinates used in other commands within that function (or within its child functions) until the next iteration, regardless of the order of commands. The /execute command circumvents this.
When called through a player this function will teleport that player 5 blocks up, place an emerald block one block below their original position before the teleport, and place a diamond block one block below their new position after the teleport. This behavior does not affect position arguments within selectors, which will always test for the current position at the time of execution.
There are several methods of running a function file in-game:
The commands in the function are run through the server.
The coordinates from which the "server" executes commands are (0, 0, 0).
If multiple functions need to be looped, it is possible to insert function commands into this looped function file, put function commands in those functions, etc.
Advancements can run a function once as a reward for completing them. The commands in the function are run through the player who completed the advancement.
Reward functions are called within advancement JSON files using the following format: