Glossary

Activator Rail—When a minecart passes over an activator rail, a command is issued that will affect the minecart or the contents of the minecart.

Beacon—Beacons produce an extremely bright light source that can be seen from a great distance. They can also affect the status of a player who gets close to them.

Bedrock—Everyone loves digging in Minecraft, but eventually you’ll hit bottom. Bedrock is the bottom layer and you cannot break this block in survival mode.

Biome—Every Minecraft world has multiple biomes or ecological regions. Fly around enough in creative mode and you will come across deserts, mountain ranges, oceans, jungles, plains, and many others.

Button—When activated, a button will release a short burst of power, enabling such actions as opening doors or powering other mechanisms.

Command Block—A special game block that enables custom commands to be issued within the game. Command blocks need to be activated by a redstone power source.

Comparator—When placed in redstone circuits, comparators compare adjacent signals within the circuit and act to maintain or turn off the signal. They can be used to subtract signal strength.

Compass—Compasses point players back to the spawn (starting) point.

Crafting Table—Players use a crafting table to craft, or create, artifacts used in the game.

Daylight Sensor—These blocks measure the output of light in the game and issue a redstone signal.

Detector Rail—These rails detect minecarts traveling over them and issue a redstone signal.

Dispenser—When activated, these blocks dispense items stored in them to players standing in front of the block.

Dropper—Like a dispenser, these blocks eject items stored in them. Unlike a dispenser, these blocks can be chained together and push items over a distance.

Dyes—Obtained by collecting flowers or mineral ores, dyes are useful in creating different colored fireworks.

Elytra—Wing-like item that enables players to glide and fly.

Lever—Levers open or close redstone circuits.

Mechanisms—Component blocks and devices in the game that allow actions to be undertaken. Piston doors are an example of a mechanism.

Mods—The creative team behind Minecraft has opened the game up to other developers by allowing them to create modifications (mods) to the original game. These modifications are mostly free and change the game by adding new features or modifying existing ones.

Note Block—Assorted musical notes can be played through note blocks when they are activated by redstone.

Observer Block—These blocks monitor the state of blocks placed next to them and issue a redstone signal when a change in condition is observed.

Piston—There are two kinds of pistons in Minecraft. Both push blocks in the direction the piston is facing. When using sticky pistons, many of the pushed blocks stick to the piston, which enables the block to be pulled back.

Powered Rail—Used in combination with a power source, these rails will move a minecart in any desired direction.

Pressure Plate—When used as a redstone component, these nonsolid blocks activate a mechanism when stepped upon.

Redstone—A special block in Minecraft that releases dust when broken and can be used to provide power to crafted items like pistons and automated doors.

Redstone Lamp—Blocks that emit a light source when activated by a redstone source.

Redstone Torch—A miniature and portable power source used to activate redstone devices.

Repeater—A block that can be used to extend the length of a redstone signal or delay it. Repeaters may also be used to lock a signal into one state or prevent signals from moving backward.

Spawn—This is the location where everyone will initially arrive in a new world. Your spawn point changes once you create a home with a bed and lay in it. When you die in survival mode, you will respawn at this point.

Trapped Chest—Like a regular Minecraft chest, this chest can store items. Unlike a regular chest, this chest can be filled remotely or be used to dispense an item with a command block.

Trip Wire—Trip wires are used to detect objects like players or minecarts passing through them. They will then activate a redstone circuit and any associated mechanisms.