View source for Minecraft:Client.jar

{{Lowercase}}
{{Redirect|Client|the [[Minecraft:entity]] sometimes called "client"|Player|the [[Minecraft:block]] {{in|be}}|Client request placeholder block}}
{{Exclusive|java}}
{{Infobox program
| image = Java Edition {{v|java|nolink=1}}.png
| title = client.jar
| author =
* [[File:Mojang Studios logo.svg|x20px|link=Mojang Studios]] [[Minecraft:Mojang Studios]]
| platform = {{OS|win|mac|lin}} and other platforms that support running a JVM
| programming language = {{OS|java}} {{w|Java (programming language)|Java}}
| license = [https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula EULA]
| website = https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download
| source available = Partial
| size = * ≈ 53 MiB ({{v|java}})
* ≈ 76 MiB (as of {{v|java-snap}})
| version =
* '''Release''': {{v|java}}
{{#if: {{v|java-snap}} | * '''Snapshot''': {{v|java-snap}} }}
| date = May 16, 2009 ([[Minecraft:Java Edition Classic mc-161607|mc-161607]])
| customlinks =
'''Downloads'''
* [https://piston-data.mojang.com/v1/objects/{{#dpl:title=Java Edition {{v|java|nolink=yes}}|includepage={Infobox version}:clienthash}}/client.jar Release {{v|java|nolink=yes}}]
* [https://piston-data.mojang.com/v1/objects/{{#dpl:title=Java Edition {{v|java-snap|nolink=yes}}|includepage={Infobox version}:clienthash}}/client.jar {{ucfirst:{{v|java-type|nolink=1}}}} {{v|java-snap|nolink=yes}}]
}}
{{relevant tutorial|See Minecraft's code}}

<code>'''client.jar'''</code> is a {{w|JAR (file format)|JAR}} file containing the ''[[Minecraft:Minecraft]]'' program and some default resources. It is launched by the user using the ''[[Minecraft:Minecraft Launcher]]''.

The <code>client.jar</code> file is named using the [[Minecraft:Version formats#Release|version]] number after download, e.g., ''1.21.5.jar''. The name ''client.jar'' is used on the distribution server, and commonly as a general term for all versions of the file. It is located at <code>[[Minecraft:.minecraft]]/versions/''version''/''version''.jar</code>, next to the <code>[[Minecraft:client.json]]</code> file.

It can be opened with a [[Minecraft:wikipedia:File archiver|file archiving program]] that supports ZIP files.

== Contents ==
The file contains the ''Minecraft'' program in form of compiled Java class files. It also contains some, but not all, default resources; for instance, textures from the vanilla resource pack are stored here, but [[Minecraft:Tutorial:Sound directory|sound files]] are stored separately.

=== Directory structure ===
The <code>client.jar</code> file has the following directory structure. Note that Java class files have been omitted for brevity.

<!-- last checked in 1.21.1 -->
{{blist|class=treeview
|{{File|archive|''version''.jar}}
|{{blist
|{{File|directory|META-INF}}: Information for the JVM, including signature information, which may be used to check if the game is [[Minecraft:Mod#Crash reports|modified]].
{{blist
    |{{File|file|LICENSE}}
    |{{File|file|MANIFEST.MF}}
    |{{File|file|MOJANGCS.RSA}}
    |{{File|file|MOJANGCS.SF}}
}}
|{{File|directory|assets}}: The vanilla [[Minecraft:resource pack]].
{{blist
    |{{Collapse|title={{File|directory|minecraft}}
    |content={{blist
        |{{File|directory|atlases}}
        |{{File|directory|blockstates}}
        |{{File|directory|font}}
		{{blist
		|{{File|directory|include}}
		}}
        |{{File|directory|items}}
        |{{File|directory|lang}}
        {{blist
        |{{File|file|en_us.json}}: The default language file.
        }}
        |{{File|directory|models}}
        |{{File|directory|particles}}
        |{{File|directory|shaders}}
        |{{File|directory|texts}}
		{{blist
		|{{File|file|splashes.txt}}: Splash text file.
		|{{File|file|end.txt}}: End poem text file.
		|{{File|file|postcredits.txt}}
		|{{File|file|credits.json}}
		}}
        |{{File|directory|textures}}
        |{{File|file|gpu_warnlist.json}}: 76 byte file to check and warn about incompatible GPUs.
        |{{File|file|regional_compliancies.json}}: 301 byte file to check and warn users in-game playing for too long in South Korea.
    }}
    }}
    |{{File|file|.mcassetsroot}}: Empty file identifying the vanilla resource pack.
}}
|{{File|directory|com}}
{{blist
    |{{File|directory|mojang}}
    {{blist
    |{{File|directory|blaze3d}}
	|{{File|directory|realmsclient}}
	|{{File|directory|math}}
    }}
}}
|{{File|directory|data}}: The vanilla [[Minecraft:data pack]].
{{blist
    |{{Collapse|title={{File|directory|minecraft}}
    |content={{blist
        |{{File|directory|advancement}}
        |{{File|directory|banner_pattern}}
		|{{File|directory|cat_variant}}
        |{{File|directory|chat_type}}
		|{{File|directory|chicken_variant}}
		|{{File|directory|cow_variant}}
        |{{File|directory|damage_type}}
        |{{File|directory|datapacks}}
        {{blist
        |{{File|directory|minecart_improvements}}: The Minecart Improvements [[Minecraft:data pack]].
		|{{File|directory|redstone_improvements}}: The Redstone Improvements [[Minecraft:data pack]].
        |{{File|directory|trade_rebalance}}: The Villager Trade Rebalance [[Minecraft:data pack]].
        }}
		|{{File|directory|dialog}}
		{{blist
		|{{File|file|custom_options.json}}
		|{{File|file|quick_actions.json}}
		|{{File|file|server_links.json}}
		}}
        |{{File|directory|dimension_type}}
        |{{File|directory|enchantment}}
        |{{File|directory|enchantment_provider}}
        {{blist
        |{{File|directory|raid}}
        }}
		|{{File|directory|frog_variant}}
		|{{File|directory|instrument}}
        |{{File|directory|jukebox_song}}
        |{{File|directory|loot_table}}
		|{{File|directory|painting_variant}}
		|{{File|directory|pig_variant}}
        |{{File|directory|recipe}}
        |{{File|directory|structure}}: [[Minecraft:Structure]] data.
        |{{File|directory|tags}}
		|{{File|directory|test_environment}}: Introduced in [[Minecraft:Java Edition 1.21.5|1.21.5]].
		|{{File|directory|test_instance}}: Introduced in [[Minecraft:Java Edition 1.21.5|1.21.5]].
		|{{File|directory|timeline}}: [[Minecraft:Timeline]] data.
		|{{File|directory|trade_set}}
		|{{File|directory|trial_spawner}}: Trial spawner data. Introduced in [[Minecraft:Java Edition 1.21|1.21]].
        |{{File|directory|trim_material}}
        |{{File|directory|trim_pattern}}
		|{{File|directory|villager_trade}}
        |{{File|directory|wolf_variant}}
		|{{File|directory|wolf_sound_variant}}
		|{{File|directory|world_clock}}
        |{{File|directory|worldgen}}
		|{{File|directory|zombie_nautilus_variant}}
    }}
    }}
    |{{File|file|.mcassetsroot}}: Empty file identifying the vanilla data pack.
}}
|{{File|directory|net}}
{{blist
    |{{File|directory|minecraft}}
    {{blist
    |{{File|directory|client}}
    |{{File|directory|data}}
    |{{File|directory|obfuscate}}
    |{{File|directory|server}}
    |{{File|directory|util}}
    }}
}}
|{{File|file|flightrecorder-config.jfc}}
|{{File|file|pack.png}}: Vanilla resource pack and data pack icon.
|{{File|file|[[Minecraft:version.json]]}}
}}
}}

=== Blaze3D ===
Blaze3D is a private library that provides the graphics backend for {{w|LWJGL}}/{{w|OpenGL}} and {{w|Vulkan}}{{upcoming|je 26.2}}<ref>{{mcnet|another-step-towards-vibrant-visuals-for-java-edition|Another step towards Vibrant Visuals|February 18, 2026}}</ref> used in the game's [[Minecraft:rendering]], while also providing some low-level abstraction for {{w|OpenAL}} and {{w|glyph}} typographic information for audio control and [[Minecraft:font]]s respectively.

When used for rendering, Blaze3D sets up the render system and the graphics backend, managing the program's window, GPU devices, memory buffers, view states, and other resources. When used for audio, it provides audio devices, channeling, and playback control for the game's own [[Minecraft:sound]] engine.

In the future, Mojang Studios plans to rework the codebase, which includes separating the game's rendering and gameplay codebase,<ref>{{mcnet|vibrant-visuals-java-edition|Vibrant Visuals on Java Edition|April 16, 2025}}</ref> and a dedicated thread for rendering<ref>{{mcnet|the-road-to-vibrant-visuals-on-java|The road to Vibrant Visuals on Java|October 22, 2025}}</ref>.

== History ==
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|java classic}}
|{{HistoryLine||mc-161607|[[Minecraft:Notch]] started distributing the game to other people, constituting the creation of client.jar.}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.14a_08|Signature files, MOJANG_C.SF and MOJANG_C.DSA have been added to the META-INF folder.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java indev}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.31|dev=20091223-0040|Java class files have been moved from client.jar/com/mojang/minecraft to client.jar/net/minecraft.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java infdev}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100627|Java class files are now all located in the root directory of client.jar.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.2.5|The signature files, MOJANG_C.SF and MOJANG_C.DSA have been moved to CODESIGN.SF and CODESIGN.RSA, respectively.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.4|dev=24w45a|New entry point {{samp|net.minecraft.client.data.Main}} is present in client.jar, with similar command line structure as data generator in [[Minecraft:server.jar]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||26.1|dev=snap1|The Java class files in client.jar are no longer obfuscated, and are no longer located in the root directory of client.jar.}}
}}

== See also ==
* [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition installation files|''Bedrock Edition'' installation files]], which contain the game client executable for {{BE}}.
* [[Minecraft:.minecraft]]
* [[Minecraft:server.jar]]

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox Java Edition technical|general}}

[[Category:Development]]

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