Minecraft:Protocol Documentation

This page provides an overview of Minecraft protocol documentation, file formats, and development tools.

Java Edition

Template:Main The Minecraft:Java Edition protocol documents communication between Template:JE clients and servers.

Network protocol

• Packets - Packet IDs, fields, and purposes.
• Data types - Encodings and data structures used by packet fields.
• Protocol FAQ - Common implementation questions, including login and status ping sequences.
• Server list ping - Requests for a server's status.
• Encryption - Encryption used during a game session.
• Plugin channels - Custom messages exchanged between clients and servers.
• Registry data - Registry information sent to clients.
• Command data - Command definitions sent to clients.
• Chat - Chat messages and related packet fields.
• Inventory and slot data - Inventory interactions and item stack encoding.
• Chunk format - Chunk data sent to clients.
• Block actions - Block action IDs and their meanings.
• Object data, entity metadata, and entity statuses - Entity data and status values.
• Particles - Particle IDs and their associated data.
• Development versions - Protocol changes in development releases.

Services and server interfaces

• Minecraft:Microsoft authentication - account authentication
• Minecraft:Mojang API - player profiles and account services
• Minecraft:RCON - remote server commands
• Minecraft:Query - server information queries
• Minecraft:Minecraft Server Management Protocol - server management

File formats and development

• Minecraft:NBT format - structured binary data
• Minecraft:JSON - data used by resource packs and data packs
• Minecraft:Text component and Minecraft:Formatting codes - text formatting
• Client command line arguments
• Client reimplementations

For the full directory, see Minecraft:Java Edition protocol.

Bedrock Edition

Template:Main The Bedrock Edition protocol documents communication between Template:BE clients and servers.

Network protocol

• Protocol overview - Primitive types, packet format, and transport information.
• Packets - Packet IDs, fields, and purposes.
• Data types - Data structures used by packet fields.
• Login sequence - The steps used to establish a game session.
• Level events - Level event IDs and their meanings.
• Entity events - Entity event IDs and their meanings.
• Protocol version numbers - Protocol versions associated with game releases.
• Minecraft:RakNet - Connection handshake, packet formats, and acknowledgments.
• Minecraft:NetherNet - WebRTC transport, signaling, and message framing.

File formats and services

• Level format - World storage and level data.
• Realms API - Requests used to interact with Bedrock Edition Realms.

Tools

• Bedrock Edition programs - third-party tools and software

Historical documentation

These pages describe earlier Pocket Edition protocols and formats.

• Pocket Edition protocol
• Legacy Pocket Edition protocol
• Pocket Edition login procedure
• Minecraft:Pocket Realms
• Pocket Edition map format
• Pocket Edition programs

Java Edition Classic

The following pages document Java Edition Classic protocols, file formats, and third-party software.

Protocols and file formats

• Classic protocol specification - Communication between Classic clients and servers.
• Classic Protocol Extension - Additional protocol features supported by compatible clients and servers.
• Server map format (.dat) - The Classic server map format.
• Saved level format (.mclevel) - The Classic saved level format.
• ClassicWorld format (.cw) - The ClassicWorld map format.

Tools and development

• Clients - third-party Classic clients
• Servers - third-party Classic servers
• Libraries - libraries for data files and network protocols
• Wrappers - mods that override client or server features
• C# example for reading level.dat

For related pages, see [[Minecraft::Category:Java Edition Classic protocol]].