Datapack Codex

Air

Minecraft Wiki article. Categories: Renewable_resources, Non-stackable_resources, Verify_for_Java_Edition, Pages_using_calculator, Pages_with_YouTube_videos, Java_Edition_upcoming, Blocks, Environment…

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This article is reproduced from Air on the Minecraft Wiki. Mirrored from revision 3709495. It is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 by the Minecraft Wiki contributors — not under the Codex’s CC BY-SA 4.0, and it may not be used commercially. Edits belong upstream, not here.

On this page
Air

Air.png: Infobox image for Minecraft block 'Air'

Air (shown) JE2.png: Infobox image for Minecraft block 'Air'

Invicon Air.png: Inventory sprite for Air in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Air
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    "title": "Air",
    "rows": [
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            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
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        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "Stackable"
        },
        {
            "field": "None",
            "label": "Tool"
        },
        {
            "field": "0",
            "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
        },
        {
            "field": "0",
            "label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Fire#Flammable blocks article, displayed as Flammable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "Catches fire<br>from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: rgb(); border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> 0 NONE</span>",
            "label": "(link to Map item format#Color table article, displayed as Map color)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Default (Harp)",
            "label": "(link to Note Block#Instruments article, displayed as Note block instrument)"
        }
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    "invimages": [
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Air is an invisible block used to define unoccupied space where other blocks and items could exist; it represents the absence of a block or an item. It is one of the few blocks in the game that players cannot normally interact with.

Cave air‌[Java Edition only] is a variant found only underground in carver caves[verify for Java Edition] and some generated structures along with features like lava lakes.

Void air‌[Java Edition only] is a variant used internally for the 'air' in unloaded chunks and outside of the world height limits (above Y=319 and below Y=-64 in the Overworld, and above Y=255 and below Y=0 in the Nether and the End dimensions).

Appearance

All types of air are completely invisible.

The only exception is that air can be visualized with the use of structure blocks in Save mode: when "Show invisible blocks" is enabled, air is represented as small blue-edged cubes. Air, cave air, and void air are all displayed identically.

Obtaining

In Bedrock Edition, air cannot be obtained in the inventory without editing even with commands.

In Java Edition, the block is completely unobtainable as an item. When attempting to use commands with air as an item ID:

  • Using /give does nothing.
  • Using /clear will always fail to find any matching items.
  • Using /item replace deletes the item in the specified slot.
  • Using /summon to attempt to create an item entity (i.e. /summon item ~ ~ ~ {Item:{id:"air"}}) does nothing.

As a block, air can be destroyed or created only by the placement or removal of other blocks respectively. When using commands such as /fill, specifying air deletes other blocks.

Natural generation

Upon world generation, all otherwise empty spaces are occupied by air.

In Java Edition, carver caves and some underground structures generate containing cave air instead, including mineshafts[1], strongholds, monster rooms, and lava lakes[2], and void air is used in place of unloaded chunks and above or below the world's buildable area to denote illegal locations for blocks to be put.

Post-generation

When other blocks are destroyed by any means, air is created.

Usage

Air, shown at left, is represented by blue cubes within structures. Cave air and void air are also shown as such.

Air shares some properties with non-solid blocks, including allowing the player or mob to move within that space without suffocating, and also to catch their breath if they are drowning in water.

Cave air and void air have no special properties; they function the same as normal air.

Piston interactivity

Air and its variants are destroyed when pushed by a piston. They cannot be pulled by sticky pistons.

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

BlockIdentifierFormBlock tags Translation key
BlockSprite air.png: Sprite image for air in Minecraft AirairBlock & Itemair
parrots_spawnable_on
replaceable		 block.minecraft.air
BlockSprite cave-air.png: Sprite image for cave-air in Minecraft Cave Aircave_airBlockair
replaceable		 block.minecraft.cave_air
BlockSprite void-air.png: Sprite image for void-air in Minecraft Void Airvoid_airBlockair
replaceable		 block.minecraft.void_air
FluidIdentifier
BlockSprite air.png: Sprite image for air in Minecraft Emptyempty

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1] Translation key
BlockSprite air.png: Sprite image for air in Minecraft Airair413Block & Ungiveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]
(Numeric: -158)		 tile.air.name
  1. ↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. ↑ Unavailable with /give command
  3. ↑ The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Videos

History

Java Edition

Java Edition pre-Classic
Cave game tech testAdded air, which is any space devoid of blocks.
Air is not internally considered a block.
Java Edition Indev
0.3120100114Air now affects liquid blocks that are horizontally adjacent to it. If air is touching the fluid block, there is a 2⁄3 chance for the fluid block to disappear and make the pool recede, and a 1⁄3 chance for the fluid block to fill the air, making the pool spread.
Java Edition
1.7.213w38bAir is now internally a block.[3]
1.916w02aAir is now translatable into other languages.
1.1016w20a Air can now be visualized with the use of structure blocks.
1.1318w06aTwo new variations of air have been added: cave air and void air.
Carver caves now generate cave air instead of normal air.
Void air is now internally used at Y values outside the world height boundaries and in unloaded chunks.
1.1519w39a Outlines of air shown by "show invisible blocks" by a structure block no longer have black outlines.
Upcoming Java Edition
26.3snap2Cave air no longer generates in Nether caves.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
DemoAdded air.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
Build 0016CU11.001.001.00Patch 11.0.1Added air.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0Added air.

Data history

Java Edition
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeric ID was 0.

Trivia

  • In Java Edition, in the replace arguments for /fill, cave and void air are treated as regular air, meaning that /fill x y z x y z block replace air also fills cave air and void air. When trying to replace cave or void air, the command fails even if cave or void air is present.

Issues

Issues relating to "Air" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

See also

References

  1. ↑ MC-125112 – Surface mineshafts in mesas use cave_air – resolved as "Won't Fix".
  2. ↑ MC-128250 – Surface water and lava ponds use cave_air – resolved as "Won't Fix".
  3. ↑ "This snapshot may be very crashy because @_grum redefined the concept of "air". We're keeping an eye on the crash list though!" – @Dinnerbone (Nathan Adams) on X (formerly Twitter), September 20, 2013

Sources