Dimension type

This feature is exclusive to Java Edition.
 

Dimension types are technical JSON files within a data pack, in the folder data/<namespace>/dimension_type. They define properties of a dimension such as world height build limits, the ambient light, and more.

JSON format

  • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] The root object.
    • [Boolean] ultrawarm[until JE 1.21.11]: Whether the dimensions behaves like the nether (water evaporates and sponges dry) or not. Also lets stalactites drip lava and causes lava to spread faster and thinner.
    • [Boolean] natural[until JE 1.21.11]: When false, compasses spin randomly, and using a bed to set the respawn point or sleep‌[until JE 1.21.11], is disabled. When true, nether portals can spawn zombified piglins‌[until JE 1.21.11], and creaking hearts can spawn creakings.
    • [Double] coordinate_scale: The multiplier applied to coordinates when leaving the dimension. Value between 0.00001 and 30000000.0 (both inclusive)。
    • [Boolean] has_skylight: Whether the dimension has skylight or not.
    • [Boolean] has_ceiling: Whether the dimension has a bedrock ceiling. Note that this is only a logical ceiling. It is unrelated with whether the dimension really has a block ceiling.
    • [Float] ambient_light: How much light the dimension has. When set to 0, it completely follows the light level; when set to 1, there is no ambient lighting.​[more information needed]
    • [Long] fixed_time[until JE 1.21.11]: (optional) If this is set to an int, the time of the day is the specified value. To ensure a normal time cycle, leave the attribute undefined (i.e, do not include it).
    • [Boolean] has_fixed_time[upcoming JE 1.21.11]: (optional, defaults to false) Weather this dimension has fixed time. ​[more information needed]
    • [Int][NBT Compound / JSON Object] monster_spawn_light_level: Value between 0 and 15 (both inclusive). Maximum light required when the monster spawns. The formula of this light is: max( skyLight - 10, blockLight ) during thunderstorms, and max( internalSkyLight, blockLight ) during other weather.
      • Int provider see Template:Nbt inherit/int_provider/template
    • [Int] monster_spawn_block_light_limit: Value between 0 and 15 (both inclusive). Maximum block light required when the monster spawns.
    • [Boolean] piglin_safe[until JE 1.21.11]: When false, Piglins and hoglins shake and transform to zombified entities.
    • [Boolean] bed_works[until JE 1.21.11]: When false, the bed blows up when trying to sleep.
    • [Boolean] respawn_anchor_works[until JE 1.21.11]: When false, the respawn anchor blows up when trying to set spawn point.
    • [Boolean] has_raids[until JE 1.21.11]: Whether players with the Bad Omen effect can cause a raid.
    • [Int] logical_height: The maximum height to which chorus fruits and nether portals can bring players within this dimension. This excludes portals that were already built above the limit as they still connect normally. Cannot be greater than [Int] height.
    • [Int] cloud_height[until JE 1.21.11]:Optional value between -2032 and 2031. If set, determines the lower edge of the clouds. If unset, clouds are disabled in the dimension.
    • [Int] min_y: The minimum height in which blocks can exist within this dimension. Must be between -2032 and 2031 and be a multiple of 16 (effectively making 2016 the maximum).
    • [Int] height: The total height in which blocks can exist within this dimension. Must be between 16 and 4064 and be a multiple of 16. The maximum building height = min_y + height - 1, which cannot be greater than 2031.
    • [String] infiniburn: A block tag with #. Fires on these blocks burns infinitely.
    • [String] effects[until JE 1.21.11]: (optional, defaults to minecraft:overworld) Can be "minecraft:overworld", "minecraft:the_nether" and "minecraft:the_end". Determines the dimension effect used for this dimension. Setting to overworld makes the dimension have sun, stars, moon, and increased fog during rain. Setting to the nether makes the dimension have thick fog blocking that sight‌[until JE 1.21.11] and uniform ambient light (i.e. the bottom side of blocks isn't darker than the top). Setting to the end makes the dimension have dark spotted sky similar to the end, ignoring the sky and fog color.
    • [String] skybox[upcoming JE 1.21.11]: (optional, defaults to overworld) The skybox to use. Can be none overworld end.
    • [String] cardinal_light[upcoming JE 1.21.11]: (optional, defaults to default) Direction of cardinal light affecting blocks. Can be default nether
    • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] attributes[upcoming JE 1.21.11]: Map of environment attributes that apply when in this dimension.

Defaults

These are the settings used by the 3 dimensions present in Vanilla and the additional Overworld Caves settings provided by Minecraft.

Property Overworld The Nether The End Overworld Caves
[Boolean] ultrawarm[until JE 1.21.11] False True False False
[Boolean] natural True False False True
[Boolean] piglin_safe[until JE 1.21.11] False True False False
[Boolean] respawn_anchor_works[until JE 1.21.11] False True False False
[Boolean] bed_works[until JE 1.21.11] True False False True
[Boolean] has_raids[until JE 1.21.11] True False True True
[Boolean] has_skylight True False False True
[Boolean] has_ceiling False True False True
[Double] coordinate_scale 1.0 8.0 1.0 1.0
[Long] fixed_time Undefined 18000 6000 Undefined
[Float] ambient_light 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0
[Int] min_y -64 0 0 -64
[Int] height 384 256 256 384
[Int] logical_height 384 128 256 384
[Int] cloud_height[until JE 1.21.11] 192 Undefined Undefined 192
[Int][NBT Compound / JSON Object] monster_spawn_light_level 0-7 7 0-7 0-7
[Int] monster_spawn_block_light_limit 0 15 0 0
[String] infiniburn #infiniburn_overworld #infiniburn_nether #infiniburn_end #infiniburn_overworld
[String] effects overworld the_nether the_end overworld

History

This section is missing information about: 25w42a changes
 
Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.
Java Edition
1.16Pre-release 1Added dimension types to data packs.
1.16.2pre1Dimension types now use the same folder pattern in data packs as other resources: namespace/<type>/resource.json.
pre2Replaced the field [Boolean] shrunk with [Float] coordinate_scale.
1.1720w49aAdded [Int] min_y and [Int] height.
1.18.222w06ainfiniburn's defined tag must be preceded by a # symbol; this was previously optional.
1.1922w11aDimension types can no longer be inlined in the dimension, they have to be a reference to a separate dimension_type file.
pre1Added [Int] monster_spawn_block_light_limit and [Int][NBT Compound / JSON Object] monster_spawn_light_level to the dimension type.
1.21.625w15aAdded [Int] cloud_height to the dimension type, replacing clouds from being controlled by [String] effects.
Upcoming Java Edition
1.21.1125w42aAdded new attributes field for dimensions to specify Environment Attributes.
Many fields have been migrated to Environment Attributes.​[more information needed]

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