Light (block)

This article is about the invisible light-producing block. For light producing blocks in general, see Light § Light level.

Light

Java Edition

Bedrock Edition

View all renders

Rarity tier	Epic‌^{[JE only]} Common‌^{[BE only]}
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
Map color	No waterlogging: 0 NONE Waterlogging:: 12 WATER
Note block instrument	Default (Harp)

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.^[1] 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. Using /give <target> minecraft:light[block_state={level:"<int>"}] can give a light block with a specific light level and corresponding texture. If the block_state component is removed or the level is not an integer from 0 to 15, the yellow stars texture is used by the item model, and a light level of 15 is emitted when the block is placed.

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].

Usage

Each light block has an associated light level, which can be any value 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.

Placement and interaction

Light blocks are mainly used in Creative mode, so the description below mainly applies to that mode.

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.

In Survival mode, a light block can be placed, however only its hitbox is visible, and the block is not interactive (it does not allow to increase its level).

In Adventure mode, a light block cannot be placed, and already placed blocks are completely invisible and inaccessible (only the light they produce is visible).

Behavior

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

Since light blocks produce light, their primary use is to illuminate certain areas of the world.

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Sounds

Java Edition:

`stone` sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	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^{[until: JE 26.4]}	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:

`stone` sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch
	Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`dig.stone`	`subtitles.block.generic.break`	1.0	0.8–1.0
	Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	`place.stone`	`subtitles.block.generic.place`	1.0	0.8–1.0
	Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`hit.stone`	`subtitles.block.generic.hit`	0.37	0.5
	Footsteps	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	`fall.stone`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.4	1.0
	Footsteps	Players	Walking on the block	`step.stone`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.3	1.0
	Footsteps	Blocks	Jumping from the block	`jump.stone`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.12	1.0
	Footsteps	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	`land.stone`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

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

Bedrock Edition:

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

↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Available with /give command.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Block states

Name	Default value	Allowed values	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

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.17	21w13a	Added lights.
	21w13a	Unlike in Bedrock Edition, while a player is holding the item, a particle is displayed similar to a barrier.
	21w18a	The textures of lights have been changed.
	21w20a	The textures of lights have been changed, again.
	21w20a	The rarity of light has been changed from "Common" to "Epic".
1.18	21w42a	The respective item texture of lights is now used as the particle instead of four yellow stars, matching Bedrock Edition.^[2]
1.18	21w42a	The texture for the four stars now used only as placeholder texture by item model.^[3]
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.
1.19.3	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.
26.3	snap3	The placeholder light texture has been removed.

Bedrock Edition

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.
	beta 1.17.30.20	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

Bedrock Edition

Screenshots

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

References

↑ MC-263398 – resolved as "Works As Intended".
↑ MC-233771 – Parity issue: Light blocks do not display their light level when shown via a held light block item – resolved as "Fixed".
↑ MC-239401