Map

A map is an item used to view explored surface terrain and, , players. Maps can be cloned, zoomed out and locked using a cartography table. A locator map is a variant which shows player locations.

Cartography table

, a map can also be created using a single paper in a cartography table to create an empty map, or a paper and a compass for an empty locator map.

Starting map

When creating a new world , the player can enable the "Starting Map" option to spawn with an empty locator map in the hotbar. This option is not available in Hardcore mode. The map's zoom scale is 1:8.

Villager gifts

, cartographer villagers may give players with the Hero of the Village effect an empty map.

Mapping

Crafting a map creates an empty map. The map is drawn for the first time when it is held and used (by pressing the control). After conversion to a drawn map item, it starts to draw a top-down view of the player's surroundings, with North pointing to the top of the map. A pointed oval pointer indicates the player's position on the map, and moves in real-time as the player moves across the terrain shown on the map. , this pointer is displayed exclusively on locator maps.

The map does not center on the player when created; rather, the world is broken up into large invisible grid squares, and the map displays the area of whichever grid square it was in when it was first used. For example, if a player uses a new map in a certain grid square, then moves a distance away and uses another fresh map within the same grid square, both maps still have the exact same boundary. To make a map with different bounds than the first one, the player would have to move outside of the edges of the first map to enter a new grid square. This way, no two maps of the same size can ever partially overlap. However, by externally editing a map's NBT file, the center coordinate of a map can be changed to arbitrary X and Z integer coordinates, and it will work correctly. So, technically, this restriction on possible center positions only applies to map creation. To record the world on a map, that specific map must be held in either of the player's hands while the player moves around the world. The map records terrain within a 64-block radius (4 chunks) from a player in the Overworld or the End, or 32 blocks in the Nether. The map only records the surface even if the player is underground. The world is recorded as-is during exploration, meaning that if the world is modified, a player must revisit the area while holding the map to update the map. Maps display as a mini-map when held in the off-hand, or if the off-hand slot is occupied; the map is full-sized only when held in the dominant hand with both hands free. Maps can be cloned to synchronize them or framed for display. To create a custom picture, a player can make a large piece of pixel art (128×128) facing upward, center a map on it, and place that map in an item frame. Locking is recommended. See for details on the techniques.

Map content

Maps are shown as a 128×128 square grid of colored pixels, with each pixel representing a square portion of land. A standard map (meaning zoom level 0/4) represents 128×128 blocks with 1 block per pixel. It can be zoomed out to represent up to 2048×2048 blocks with 16×16 blocks per pixel at zoom level 4/4. , the color of a map pixel generally matches the color of the most common opaque block in the corresponding area, as seen from a bird's-eye view. 'Minority blocks' in the target area have no effect on the color of the pixel, thus small features tend to be undetectable on zoomed-out maps. , the color of a map pixel instead matches the single top-most opaque block in a grid sized by the map's scale factor. For example, a map with zoom level 3/4 has a pixel size of 8×8 blocks; this means the map reads only the top-most opaque blocks at the 0,0 coordinate, the 8,0 coordinate, the 0,8 coordinate, etcetera, ignoring all other blocks in the area. This means that , map pixel art requires only one block per pixel regardless of map magnification. , grass, foliage and water colors that are biome-dependent are represented accurately on a map. On land above water, a block's color is darker if placed at a lower elevation than the block north of it, or brighter if placed at a higher elevation than the block north of it. Maps also show ground up to about 15 blocks below the surface of the water as slightly lighter blue, to show where the ground rises.

Other dimensions

While maps in the Nether work, they show only a red-and-gray pattern, regardless of the blocks placed. The only useful function is finding where the player is in relation to framed copies, which show as green pointers. Additionally, the player pointer rapidly spins and is not a good indicator of direction. , banner markers placed in the Nether still show on the map as usual. Despite its unreliability, having a mapped trail can still be useful in some cases, such as while riding a strider over lava. Maps in the End work as usual, mapping the terrain and showing the accurate location and direction of the player. , holding a map from the Overworld in a different dimension shows the player's last position and direction in the Overworld. This effect is temporary, and the marker disappears after quitting and joining the world/server again. , an Overworld locator map in the Nether shows the player's relative location and direction in the Overworld. Similarly, a Nether locator map in the Overworld shows the player's relative location in the Nether, but the place marker spins. An Overworld locator map in the End shows the world spawn. A Nether locator map cannot be used in the End — the map appears, but the place marker is not shown anywhere — and similarly, an End locator map cannot be used in the Overworld or the Nether. The place marker changes color depending on the dimension that the player is currently in (white for the Overworld, red for the Nether, and magenta for the End).