The Overworld

The Overworld, as seen in an extreme hills biome

The Overworld is the dimension in which all players begin their Minecraft journey.

Creation

The Overworld is created by default upon creating a new world. Other dimensions, such as the Nether and the End, will only be created upon accessing the proper portals.

Seeds

Main article: Seed

New worlds in Minecraft are generated through the use of seeds, which are typically a random number that is used as a starting point for the world generation formula. If given a non-integer input (such as the word "Glacier"), the seed input is converted into the corresponding integer (such as 1772835215).

Seeds will generate almost exactly the same world every time, given the same game version and the same world type. Although the exact spawn point varies, the coordinates of all terrain features will remain the same.

Environment

A river biome running through a mesa biome.

The Overworld is an incredibly complex environment with a wide variety of features.

Biomes

Main article: Biome

A village, one of many naturally generated structures in the Overworld.

The Overworld is subdivided into biomes. The current biome determines almost all physical aspects of the terrain. Biomes may vary widely based on size, and almost all biomes have several different variations of themselves. Biomes also influence which mobs may spawn, and affects environmental behaviors such as weather.

Natural structures

Main article: Generated structures

The Overworld is comprised of several unique terrain patterns, known as structures, that vary widely depending on the seed and the biome. While specific structures are unique to each world, they can be categorized by comparing them to a real-world equivalent, such as mountains, caves, and lakes. "Impossible" formations, such as floating islands, can also be found throughout the Overworld.

Along with terrain features, natural structures include naturally-generated buildings, such as villages, dungeons, and mineshafts.

Day-night cycle

Main article: Day-night cycle

The Overworld is the only dimension with a day-night cycle, and thus, time.

During the daytime, the sun acts as a powerful light source, with a light level of 15, the maximum. Sunlight is strong enough to grow plants and affect the way mobs spawn, among other interesting effects. During the nighttime, the moon is the only natural light source. However, moonlight is comparatively dim; the light level will fall to a minimum of 4, allowing hostile mobs to spawn. It is only during nighttime that players may sleep in a bed.

The day-night cycle can effectively be measured using a clock, which allows players to determine the approximate Minecraft time from any location in the Overworld. Time can also be sped up with the use of the /time command.

In the Computer and Console Editions, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west just as it does in the real world; in Pocket Edition it rises in the north and sets in the south. Either way, observing its motion is a simple method of telling direction without a compass.

Mobs

The Overworld is home to a wide variety of mobs. Mobs may spawn depending on the light level and the biome, among other factors. They vary widely in behavior and the level of danger they present to the player. Mobs from other dimensions, such as the Nether, may use portals to enter the Overworld, and vice versa. However, boss mobs, such as the ender dragon and the wither, cannot enter portals.

Passive mobs

Sheep	Cow	Pig	Chicken	Rabbit	Squid	Bat	Villager	Mooshroom

Tameable mobs

Wolf	Ocelot	Horse	Donkey	Mule	Skeleton Horse

Neutral mobs

Polar Bear	Enderman	Spider	Cave Spider

Hostile mobs

Zombie	Skeleton	Creeper	Slime	Witch	Guardian	Silverfish	Endermite

Zombie Villager	Husk	Stray	Elder Guardian	Spider Jockey	Chicken Jockey	Skeleton Horseman

Utility Mobs

Iron Golem	Snow Golem

Generation

Visualization of a chunk.

As with all other dimensions in the game, the Overworld can generate infinitely. However, there are some limitations, as detailed below.

The Overworld encompasses the height limit (y=256), down to the Void (y=0), and extends for millions of blocks in every direction on the horizontal plane. Technically speaking, the world is generated through a process which creates multiple noise maps to create differing elevations, general chunk shapes, and complex mountain and cave systems.

Chunks

Main article: Chunks

Chunks are the method used by the world generator to divide maps into manageable pieces. Chunks measure 16 blocks wide, 16 blocks long, and 256 blocks high, for a total volume of 65,536 blocks. Chunks are generated around players when they first enter the world, and as they wander around the world, new chunks are generated as needed. By adjusting the render distance, the player can adjust the number of chunks that will be loaded into memory, ranging from 25 chunks up to 1089.

Only chunks within the set range may have activity (mobs spawning, trees growing, water flowing, dropped items disappearing etc.), while chunks outside of this range are inactive, and are stored on the disk; this type of management is required so that players' computers do not need to track hundreds or thousands of blocks and entities at once. Note that this does not apply to spawn chunks, which will always experience activity regardless of how far away the player travels.

Visual cutoff point of a Minecraft map (Left is normal Minecraft generation, the right is after limitation.)

Limitations

While the world is essentially infinite, the number of blocks the player may physically walk on is limited. The map contains a world border at +/- 29,999,984 X/Z. The world border is an animated wall of blue stripes; as you approach, the edges of the screen will tint red for several seconds. Most entities are unable to pass the border, except through teleporting. Players who breach the border will receive constant damage, unless they are in Creative mode.

In the Pocket Edition, Old worlds are limited to 256 blocks in either direction. The edge of the world is barricaded with invisible bedrock.

In the Xbox 360 Edition, PlayStation 3 Edition, PlayStation Vita Edition, and Wii U Edition, the Overworld is limited to 862×862 blocks. Additionally, in the Xbox One Edition and PlayStation 4 Edition, the player is able to further select the size of their worlds, from Small (1024×1024), Medium (3072×3072), and Large (5120×5120). The edges of these worlds are surrounded by an endless sea of water, preceded by an invisible barrier.

Blocks

I	Has a different ID as an inventory item.
D	Use the item's Damage field to define its durability.
S	Requires additional data from the saved game's Data array to fully define the block.
B	Requires additional data in the item's Damage field to fully define the inventory item.
E	Requires a block entity to store additional data.
Red	Cannot be legitimately obtained. Only available using the /give command or via inventory editors.
Light Blue	Cannot be obtained no matter what.(Some can be placed using /setblock)
Blue	Available in Creative mode by item list.
Purple	Available in Creative mode by block picking.
Teal	Can be obtained by trading with villagers or in Creative mode.
Green	Only available by having Enchanted tools or in Creative mode.
Lime Green	Only available by having Enchanted tools or via use of /give or inventory editors, but unobtainable in the Creative mode menu.
Gray	Unused data.

Naturally generated

"Naturally generated" includes blocks that are created through the world seed.

Icon	Dec	Hex	Name	Block
	0	0	minecraft:air	Air
	1	1	minecraft:stone	Stone S B
	2	2	minecraft:grass	Grass Block
	3	3	minecraft:dirt	Dirt S B
	7	7	minecraft:bedrock	Bedrock
	8	8	minecraft:flowing_water	Water S
	10	A	minecraft:flowing_lava	Lava S
	12	C	minecraft:sand	Sand S B
	13	D	minecraft:gravel	Gravel
	14	E	minecraft:gold_ore	Gold Ore
	15	F	minecraft:iron_ore	Iron Ore
	16	10	minecraft:coal_ore	Coal Ore
	17	11	minecraft:log	Wood S B
	18	12	minecraft:leaves	Leaves S B
	21	15	minecraft:lapis_ore	Lapis Lazuli Ore
	24	18	minecraft:sandstone	Sandstone S B
	31	1F	minecraft:tallgrass	Grass S B
	32	20	minecraft:deadbush	Dead Bush
	37	25	minecraft:yellow_flower	Dandelion
	38	26	minecraft:red_flower	Flower S B
	39	27	minecraft:brown_mushroom	Brown Mushroom
	40	28	minecraft:red_mushroom	Red Mushroom
	56	38	minecraft:diamond_ore	Diamond Ore

Icon	Dec	Hex	Name	Block
	73	49	minecraft:redstone_ore	Redstone Ore
	78	4E	minecraft:snow_layer	Snow S B
	79	4F	minecraft:ice	Ice
	80	50	minecraft:snow	Snow
	81	51	minecraft:cactus	Cactus S
	82	52	minecraft:clay	Clay
	83	53	minecraft:reeds	Sugar Cane I S
	86	56	minecraft:pumpkin	Pumpkin S
	99	63	minecraft:brown_mushroom_block	Brown Mushroom (block) S
	100	64	minecraft:red_mushroom_block	Red Mushroom (block) S
	103	67	minecraft:melon_block	Melon
	106	6A	minecraft:vine	Vines S
	110	6E	minecraft:mycelium	Mycelium
	111	6F	minecraft:waterlily	Lily Pad
	127	7F	minecraft:cocoa	Cocoa I S
	129	81	minecraft:emerald_ore	Emerald Ore
	159	9F	minecraft:stained_hardened_clay	Stained Clay S B
	161	A1	minecraft:leaves2	Leaves (Acacia/Dark Oak) S B
	162	A2	minecraft:log2	Wood (Acacia/Dark Oak) S B
	172	AC	minecraft:hardened_clay	Hardened Clay
	174	AE	minecraft:packed_ice	Packed Ice
	175	AF	minecraft:double_plant	Large Flowers S B

Naturally created

Naturally created means a combination of events that cause a new block to be placed by natural causes, not the player. Some of these blocks may also be created as part of world generation.

Icon	Dec	Hex	Name	Block
	0	0	minecraft:air	Air
	1	1	minecraft:stone	Stone S B
	2	2	minecraft:grass	Grass Block
	3	3	minecraft:dirt	Dirt S B
	4	4	minecraft:cobblestone	Cobblestone
	8	8	minecraft:flowing_water	Water S
	39	27	minecraft:brown_mushroom	Brown Mushroom
	40	28	minecraft:red_mushroom	Red Mushroom
	49	31	minecraft:obsidian	Obsidian
	51	33	minecraft:fire	Fire S
	78	4E	minecraft:snow_layer	Snow S B
	79	4F	minecraft:ice	Ice
	81	51	minecraft:cactus	Cactus S
	83	53	minecraft:reeds	Sugar Cane I S
	106	6A	minecraft:vine	Vines S
	110	6E	minecraft:mycelium	Mycelium

Structures

Same as naturally generated, but these blocks are only created with the "Generate Structures" option enabled.

Icon	Dec	Hex	Name	Block
	0	0	minecraft:air	Air
	1	1	minecraft:stone	Polished Andesite S B
	4	4	minecraft:cobblestone	Cobblestone
	5	5	minecraft:planks	Oak Wood Planks S B
	5	5	minecraft:planks	Spruce Wood Planks S B
	5	5	minecraft:planks	Acacia Wood Planks S B
	5	5	minecraft:planks	Dark Oak Wood Planks S B
	8	8	minecraft:flowing_water	Water S
	10	A	minecraft:flowing_lava	Lava S
	13	D	minecraft:gravel	Gravel
	16	10	minecraft:coal_ore	Coal Ore
	17	11	minecraft:log	Oak Wood S B
	17	11	minecraft:log	Spruce Wood S B
	19	13	minecraft:sponge	Sponge S B
	23	17	minecraft:dispenser	Dispenser S E
	24	18	minecraft:sandstone	Sandstone S B
	26	1A	minecraft:bed	Bed I S
	29	1D	minecraft:sticky_piston	Sticky Piston S
	30	1E	minecraft:web	Cobweb
	35	23	minecraft:wool	Wool S B
	41	29	minecraft:gold_block	Block of Gold
	43	2B	minecraft:stone_slab	Stone Slab S B
	46	2E	minecraft:tnt	TNT
	47	2F	minecraft:bookshelf	Bookshelf
	48	30	minecraft:mossy_cobblestone	Moss Stone
	50	32	minecraft:torch	Torch S
	52	34	minecraft:mob_spawner	Monster Spawner E
	53	35	minecraft:oak_stairs	Oak Wood Stairs S
	54	36	minecraft:chest	Chest S E
	55	37	minecraft:redstone_wire	Redstone Wire I S
	58	3A	minecraft:crafting_table	Crafting Table
	59	3B	minecraft:wheat	Wheat S
	60	3C	minecraft:farmland	Farmland S
	61	3D	minecraft:furnace	Furnace S E
	64	40	minecraft:wooden_door	Oak Door I S
	65	41	minecraft:ladder	Ladder S
	66	42	minecraft:rail	Rail S
	67	43	minecraft:stone_stairs	Cobblestone Stairs S
	68	44	minecraft:sign	Wall Sign I S E
	69	45	minecraft:lever	Lever S
	70	46	minecraft:stone_pressure_plate	Stone Pressure Plate S
	71	47	minecraft:iron_door	Iron Door I S
	72	48	minecraft:wooden_pressure_plate	Wooden Pressure Plate S
	76	4C	minecraft:redstone_torch	Redstone Torch S

Icon	Dec	Hex	Name	Block
	77	4D	minecraft:stone_button	Stone Button S
	79	4F	minecraft:ice	Ice
	80	50	minecraft:snow	Snow
	85	55	minecraft:fence	Oak Fence
	93	5D	minecraft:unpowered_repeater	Redstone Repeater (inactive) I S
	96	60	minecraft:trapdoor	Trapdoor S
	97	61	minecraft:monster_egg	Stone Monster Egg S B
	97	61	minecraft:monster_egg	Stone Brick Monster Egg S B
	97	61	minecraft:monster_egg	Cracked Stone Brick Monster Egg S B
	97	61	minecraft:monster_egg	Mossy Stone Brick Monster Egg S B
	97	61	minecraft:monster_egg	Chiseled Stone Brick Monster Egg S B
	98	62	minecraft:stonebrick	Stone Bricks S B
	98	62	minecraft:stonebrick	Cracked Stone Bricks S B
	98	62	minecraft:stonebrick	Mossy Stone Bricks S B
	98	62	minecraft:stonebrick	Chiseled Stone Bricks S B
	101	65	minecraft:iron_bars	Iron Bars
	102	66	minecraft:glass_pane	Glass Pane
	117	75	minecraft:brewing_stand	Brewing Stand I S E
	118	76	minecraft:cauldron	Cauldron I S
	120	78	minecraft:end_portal_frame	End Portal Frame S
	126	7E	minecraft:wooden_slab	Oak Wood Slab S B
	126	7E	minecraft:wooden_slab	Spruce Wood Slab S B
	128	80	minecraft:sandstone_stairs	Sandstone Stairs S
	131	83	minecraft:tripwire_hook	Tripwire Hook S
	132	84	minecraft:tripwire	Tripwire I S
	134	86	minecraft:spruce_stairs	Spruce Wood Stairs S
	140	8C	minecraft:flower_pot	Flower Pot I S E
	141	8D	minecraft:carrots	Carrot I S
	142	8E	minecraft:potatoes	Potato I S
	162	A2	minecraft:log2	Acacia Wood S B
	163	A3	minecraft:acacia_stairs	Acacia Wood Stairs S
	168	A8	minecraft:prismarine	Prismarine S B
	169	A9	minecraft:sea_lantern	Sea Lantern
	171	AB	minecraft:white_carpet	White Carpet S B
	171	AB	minecraft:gray_carpet	Gray Carpet S B
	171	AB	minecraft:red_carpet	Red Carpet S B
	188	BC	minecraft:spruce_fence	Spruce Fence
	191	BF	minecraft:dark_oak_fence	Dark Oak Fence
	192	C0	minecraft:acacia_fence	Acacia Fence
	193	C1	minecraft:spruce_door	Spruce Door I S
	196	C4	minecraft:acacia_door	Acacia Door I S
	207	CF	minecraft:beetroots	Beetroot Seeds
	208	D0	minecraft:grass_path	Grass Path
	216	D8	minecraft:bone_block	Bone Block

Technical information

Information on the Overworld is stored in the region file of the .minecraft/saves/worldname directory, with "worldname" being the name of your world.

Deleting the region file will reset the Overworld, so that all player-made changes and buildings in that dimension will be undone.

History

The classic finite generator used in late 2009

The version of the terrain generator used prior to Alpha 1.2.0

The world generator used from Alpha 1.2.0 to Beta 1.7.3.

The adventure update generator introduced in Beta 1.8 and was later updated in 1.7

Pre-classic
Pre 0.0.0				The map is originally finite, with randomly-generated terrain.
rd-132211				The map terrain is changed to be completely flat.
rd-160052				The terrain is now composed of hills and valleys.
Classic
0.0.12a				Terrain changed to shallow hills.
0.24_06				Terrain given more cliffs, longer and narrower caves.
Indev
February 12, 2010				Added the day-night cycle.
Infdev
February 27, 2010				First test of infinite world generation, using the same terrain generator as in Indev.
March 27, 2010				New terrain generator, removing flowers and caves temporarily.
June 11, 2010				Changed terrain generator.
Alpha
1.0.0				Height limit increased to 128. Previously the build limit was 64 (32 blocks above sea level and 32 below).
1.2.0				Added biomes.
1.2.3				The F3 key toggles a debug console which shows the player their exact coordinates.
Beta
1.3				Player's can now specify a world's name and seed.
1.5				Added weather.
1.7				An 'f' value was added to the debug console, indicating the direction the player is facing.
1.8				New terrain generator.
				Some biomes were changed, added, or removed.
				Players can find the current map seed by pressing F3.
				Animals spawn on world generation, and don't spawn randomly as much.
				The Far Lands were removed and were replaced with void.
Official release
1.2.1		12w07a		New maps have a height of 256 thanks to the new Anvil level format.
1.6.1		13w17a		Desert biomes do not generate large pools of water anymore
1.7.2		13w36a		Cave Generation was tweaked, making caves less dense and interconnected.
				New biomes were added and some old biomes were changed.
		13w37a		An invisible barrier at 30,000,000 blocks was added. This removed the last remnants of the Far Lands.

Issues

Issues relating to “The Overworld” are maintained on the issue tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia

• The maximum number of blocks that can be generated in the Overworld is approximately 921.6 quadrillion (9.216x10¹⁷) blocks, assuming a distance of 30,000,000 blocks in either direction.
  • The total area is about 8 times the surface of the Earth, or approximately the size of Neptune.
  • This means that a filled world, with no entities or block entities, would be 3.6864 quintillion (3.6864x10¹⁸) bits (409.27261579781770706 petabytes) in block data alone, due to the fact that each standard block is assigned 4 bits of information.
• If someone made a 1:1 (1 block = 1 meter) scale version of the Earth, its area would be 510.9 trillion (5.109x10¹⁴) blocks.
  • Assuming the map is only one block deep and uses 1 byte per block, its size would be approximately 475,800 GB, or 464.7 TB.
  • A Moon-sized map would be made of 37.95 trillion (3.795x10¹³) blocks.
    • Its data size would be 35,340 GB, or 34.52 TB.

See also

• Tips for navigating the Overworld
• Survival
• The Nether
• The End

References

Environment

View at: Template:Environment/content [edit]