Barrier

This article is about the invisible block in current versions. For the similar block used in old worlds in Bedrock Edition, see Invisible Bedrock. For the unused variant of this block, see debug_fourj_item. For the enchantment in Minecraft Dungeons, see Dungeons:Barrier. For the barrier at the edge of the world, see World border.
Barrier

Barrier (held).png: Infobox image for Barrier the block in Minecraft

Barrier (shown).png: Infobox image for Barrier the block in Minecraft

Invicon Barrier.png: Inventory sprite for Barrier in Minecraft as shown in-game with description:
Rarity tier
  • Epic ‌
  • Common ‌
Renewable

No

Stackable

Yes (64)

Tool

None

Blast resistance

3,600,000.75

Hardness

-1

Luminous

No

Transparent

Partial (lets light pass through)

Waterloggable

Yes

Flammable

No

Catches fire
from lava

No

Map color (JE)


 0 NONE

A barrier is an invisible block used to create solid boundaries.

Obtaining

Barriers cannot be obtained in the creative mode inventory and are only obtainable via commands such as /give, /item in Java Edition, and /replaceitem and /give in Bedrock Edition and cannot be broken in Survival mode.

In Java Edition, barriers are available in the Creative inventory if cheats are enabled and the "Operator Items Tab" setting is turned on.

Natural generation

In normal worlds, barriers do not generate naturally. In Java Edition, they generate as the floor in debug mode worlds.

Usage

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

Barrier blocks are mainly used to build an impenetrable barrier that cannot be broken in standard Survival mode. For example, they can be used to protect a reserved area from entry by players, mobs, and other entities. Unlike other kinds of unbreakable blocks that could be used for this purpose (such as bedrock), barrier blocks are unobtrusive because they are invisible. Barrier blocks cannot be destroyed by TNT, creeper explosions, or any other explosions. Furthermore, they have a greater amount of blast resistance than any other unbreakable block.

Unlike other operator blocks such as command blocks, barriers can be placed by players in Survival mode.

In the player's inventory, the block is displayed as a red box with a slash through it, but when placed it is completely invisible.

Barriers are transparent to light and do not block beacons. Fences, iron bars, glass panes, and similar blocks do not visually connect with barriers. Barriers interact with blocks and mobs as a solid block. All dependent blocks can be placed on a barrier, such as torches or redstone, and it can suffocate mobs. Mobs cannot spawn on barriers.

In Creative mode, if a player is holding a barrier block in their hand, all placed barrier blocks display the barrier icon as a particle. This effect is client-side, and if a player holds a barrier block in Survival mode, the particle does not appear. Barrier blocks are not shown if the particle setting is set to "minimal".

Waterlogging

Barrier blocks can be waterlogged by being placed into a water source block or by manually using a water bucket on them. In Java Edition, water cannot be placed in them or taken out by non-direct interactions such as dispensers; this is allowed in Bedrock Edition. In Java Edition, only players in Creative mode can waterlog or remove water from barriers, while in Bedrock Edition there are no game mode restrictions. In Java Edition, water does not flow out of waterlogged barriers. See waterlogging for more details on what blocks can be waterlogged.

Piston interactivity

Barriers cannot be pushed by pistons. They also cannot be pushed nor pulled by sticky pistons.

Sounds

Java Edition:

BlockSprite stone.png: Sprite image for stone in Minecraft stone sound type
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.stone.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.00.816
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.stone.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.00.816
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.stone.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.516
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.stone.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.stone.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

BlockSprite bricks.png: Sprite image for bricks in Minecraft normal sound type
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.27 [sound 1]0.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.31.0
BlocksJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
BlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0
  1. MCPE-169612 — Many blocks make slightly different sounds to stone

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormBlock tagsTranslation key
BlockSprite barrier.png: Sprite image for barrier in Minecraft BarrierbarrierBlock & Itemblocks_wind_charge_explosions
dragon_immune
snow_layer_cannot_survive_on
wither_immune
block.minecraft.barrier

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
BlockSprite barrier.png: Sprite image for barrier in Minecraft Barrierbarrier416Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.barrier.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Available with /give command.
  3. The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Block states

See also: Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
waterloggedfalsetrue
false
Whether or not there's water in the same place as this barrier.

History

This article is missing information about: natural generation in a structure accidentally being added.
 
Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.
Java Edition
1.8January 30, 2014Grum posted about an invisible block.
14w05a Added barriers.
14w06aBarriers now use block of redstone breaking particles instead of lava.
A barrier particle effect has been added to the particle command. With this, the player can now see where there are barriers.
14w06bBarriers are now visible when holding the item in Creative mode.
14w20aWithers and ender dragons can no longer break barriers.
1.8.1pre3Blue wither skulls no longer break barriers.
1.1418w43a The texture of barriers has been changed.
1.15pre2Barriers are now visible when holding a barrier in the offhand.[1]
1.1721w13aBarriers are no longer visible when held in the offhand.[2]
21w20a Barriers are now revealed by save-mode structure blocks.[3]
The rarity of barriers has been changed from "Common" to "Epic".
1.19.322w42aBarriers no longer emit block particles when broken.[4]
22w44aBarriers are now available in the Creative inventory, but only if cheats are enabled.
22w45aMoved barriers behind the Operator Utilities tab in the Creative inventory. The tab is only available if cheats are enabled and the "Operator Items Tab" option in the controls menu is turned on.
1.20.223w31aBarriers can now be waterlogged by players in Creative mode.
Barriers can no longer produce particles when fallen onto[5] or brushed.[6]
Bedrock Edition
1.6.0beta 1.6.0.1 Added barriers.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The texture of barriers has been changed.
1.20.70Preview 1.20.70.22Barrier no longer drops itself when breaking.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU31CU191.221.221.22Patch 31.0.1 Added barriers.
TU36CU251.281.281.28Patch 7Barrier blocks are now used in battle minigames.
TU69 1.761.761.76Patch 38 Added barrier block to tutorial.
TU731.821.831.82Patch 42Fixed barrier block in the tutorial level.
1.90 The texture of barriers has been changed.

Data history

Java Edition
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 166.

Issues

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

Trivia

  • The symbol used is not compliant with ISO 3864-1, as the diagonal line is mirrored.[7]
  • The barrier's vanilla block model defines only what texture to use for block breaking particles, and it does not have a parent model or anything that would give the block a physical shape.
  • Barriers are hardcoded to not render any block model.[8]

Gallery

Screenshots

Development images

References

  1. MC-83003
  2. MC-221824
  3. MC-102220
  4. MC-221568
  5. MC-122547 — Barriers can produce fall particles — resolved as "Fixed".
  6. MC-260085 — Particles are created when using a brush on a barrier — resolved as "Fixed".
  7. MC-64322 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  8. MC-131775

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