Light (block)

Light

• Held
• Shown

Java Edition

Bedrock Edition

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Rarity tier	Epic ‌ Common ‌
Renewable	No
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool	None
Blast resistance	3,600,000.75
Hardness	-1
Luminous	See § Usage
Transparent	Yes
Waterloggable	Yes
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No

{
    "extratext": "View [[#Renders|all renders]]",
    "title": "Light",
    "images": [
        "Light 15.png",
        "Light 15 BE1.png",
        "Light (shown).png"
    ],
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "\n* Epic ‌<sup class=\"noprint nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup>\n* Common ‌<sup class=\"noprint nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "(link to Rarity article, displayed as Rarity tier)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes (64)",
            "label": "Stackable"
        },
        {
            "field": "None",
            "label": "Tool"
        },
        {
            "field": "3,600,000.75",
            "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
        },
        {
            "field": "-1",
            "label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
        },
        {
            "field": "See (link to #Usage article, displayed as <span style=\"white-space: nowrap;\">§ Usage</span>)",
            "label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Waterlogging article, displayed as Waterloggable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Flammable article, displayed as Flammable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "Catches fire from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [
        "Light",
        "Light 15 BE"
    ]
}

Lights are invisible blocks, primarily intended for map makers, that can produce any light level from 0 to 15.

Obtaining

Light blocks cannot be mined, similar to air, and can be targeted only if the player is holding a Light item in the main hand. Light blocks with a light level of 0 are functionally identical to air.

They do not attach to any block, meaning that breaking an adjacent block does not remove the light block. However, they can be broken by replacing them with another block. The exception is water (including, in Bedrock Edition, flowing water), which can occupy the same space as a light block. See Waterlogging for more information.

In Java Edition, light blocks are available in the Creative inventory. Across both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, they can also be obtained by using commands such as /give. In Bedrock Edition, specifying the data value from 0 to 15 determines the block's light level; if the data value is not specified, the light block emits a light level of 0. The command is: /give <target> light_block [amount: int] [data: int (0 - 15)] [components: json]. In Java Edition, using /give <target> light[block_state={level:"<int>"}] can give a light block with a specific light level and corresponding texture. If the level is below 0, the non-bulb texture is used, and above 15 the level 15 texture. If the block state is not specified or not between 0 and 15, the light block emits a light level of 15.

Usage

The difference between air (top left) and light (bottom right) when "show invisible blocks" is enabled.

A light block with a light level of 9.

Each light block has an associated light level, which can be anything from 0 to 15. In the player's inventory, light blocks display their light level in the top-left corner with a unique sprite for each light level.

Light blocks are not visible, and have no hitbox unless the player is holding another light block in their main hand. When the player holds a light block, any placed light block become interactive, displaying a small icon in the center indicating the block's location and current light level. The block icon is a particle, and does not become visible if particles are set to their lowest setting, although the hitbox remains visible and interactive until the light block leaves the player's main hand.

When holding a light block in the main hand, clicking 'use' on a light block that is already placed on the ground causes the light level of the light block to increase by one. If the light level is already 15, it resets to 0. If a light block's level has been modified, it can be copied back into the player's hotbar by using the 'pick block' button while holding another light block.

Liquids such as water and lava cannot pass through light blocks unless they are waterlogged (either with the debug stick or by placing water on either side of the block.) but falling blocks like sand, gravel, and anvils pass through the Light block as if it is air. If a falling block lands on a light block, or another block is placed over it, the light block is destroyed.

Light blocks are detected by observers, and in Bedrock Edition they can be pushed and pulled by pistons.

Light source

Light blocks produce their associated light level.

Sounds

Java Edition:

[hide] v t e stone sound type
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.stone.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.stone.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.stone.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.25	0.5	16
	​Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.stone.fall	subtitles.block.generic.fall​	0.5	0.75	16
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.stone.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

[hide] v t e stone sound type
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	When the block is placed	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.stone	0.37	0.5
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.stone	0.4	1.0
	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	0.3	1.0
	Blocks	Jumping from the block	jump.stone	0.12	1.0
	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.stone	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	[hide]Translation key
Light	light	Block & Item	dragon_transparent wither_immune	block.minecraft.light

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Alias ID	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID	[hide]Translation key
Light	light_block_0	light_block / 0	470	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -215)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_1	light_block / 1	1184	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -929)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_2	light_block / 2	1185	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -930)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_3	light_block / 3	1186	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -931)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_4	light_block / 4	1187	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -932)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_5	light_block / 5	1188	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -933)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_6	light_block / 6	1189	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -934)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_7	light_block / 7	1190	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -935)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_8	light_block / 8	1191	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -936)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_9	light_block / 9	1192	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -937)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_10	light_block / 10	1193	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -938)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_11	light_block / 11	1194	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -939)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_12	light_block / 12	1195	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -940)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_13	light_block / 13	1196	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -941)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_14	light_block / 14	1197	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -942)	tile.light_block.name
Light	light_block_15	light_block / 15	1198	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -943)	tile.light_block.name

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	[hide]Description
waterlogged	false	true false	Whether or not there's water in the same place as this light block.
level	15	0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15	The amount of light this block outputs.

History

[hide]Java Edition
1.17			21w13a				Added lights.
							Unlike in Bedrock Edition, while a player is holding the item, a particle is displayed similar to a barrier.
			21w18a				Textures of lights have been changed.
			21w20a				The textures of lights have been changed once again.
1.18			21w42a				The respective item texture of lights is now used as the particle instead of four yellow stars, matching Bedrock Edition.
							The texture for the four stars now used only as placeholder texture by item model.
1.19			22w11a				Withers and ender dragons can no longer break light blocks.
1.19.3			22w44a				Light blocks are now available in the Creative inventory, but only if cheats are enabled.
			22w45a				Moved light blocks behind the "Operator Utilities" tab in the Creative inventory. The tab is available only if cheats are enabled and the "Operator Items Tab" option in the controls menu is turned on.
[hide]Bedrock Edition
1.13.0			beta 1.13.0.4				Added textures for Light Blocks.
							Added Light Blocks.
							Light blocks have a second form with an ID of -215 and the following identifier: item.light_block. They also use the placeholder texture.
1.13.0			beta 1.13.0.13				The second form of the light block has been removed.
1.17.30			beta 1.17.20.22				Light blocks now reveal a particle when the player is holding the item, showing the respective item texture as the particle.
			beta 1.17.30.20				Right-clicking a light block with another now changes its light level by 1.
							Left-clicking a light block while holding a light block now removes it.
1.18.0			beta 1.18.0.22				Light blocks are now invulnerable to explosions.
1.20.30			Preview 1.20.20.21				Increased the blast resistance of light blocks from 3,600,000 to 3,600,000.8.
1.20.70			Preview 1.20.70.22				Light block no longer drops itself when breaking.
1.21.20			Preview 1.21.20.21				The different block states for the light_block ID have been split up into their own IDs.
1.21.30			Preview 1.21.30.22				Changed name from "Light Block" to "Light" to match Java Edition.

Gallery

Renders

Java Edition

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Bedrock Edition

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Screenshots

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  The light block as seen with a structure block in save mode.

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  A screenshot displaying the way light blocks can prevent the flow of water and lava, as well as being waterlogged.

Issues

Issues relating to "\"light block\"" or "\"light blocks\"" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.