Level API

Overview

The Level API provides core functionality for world management in Minecraft Community Edition. The Level class serves as the foundation for both single-player and multiplayer worlds, handling block manipulation, entity management, lighting, and game logic.

Class Hierarchy

LevelSource
  └── Level (abstract)
        └── MultiPlayerLevel

Level Class

The abstract base class for all game worlds. Header: Minecraft.World/Level.h
Inherits: LevelSource

Constants

static const int MAX_TICK_TILES_PER_TICK = 1000;
static const int MAX_GRASS_TICKS = 100;
static const int MAX_LAVA_TICKS = 100;

static const int MAX_LEVEL_SIZE = 30000000;
static const int maxMovementHeight = 512;

static const int minBuildHeight = 0;
static const int maxBuildHeight = 256;
static const int genDepth = 128;          // 1 << 7
static const int constSeaLevel = 63;      // genDepth / 2 - 1

static const int MAX_BRIGHTNESS = 15;
static const int TICKS_PER_DAY = 24000;   // 20*60*20

Core Members

vector<shared_ptr<Entity>> entities;
vector<shared_ptr<Player>> players;
vector<shared_ptr<Entity>> globalEntities;
vector<shared_ptr<TileEntity>> tileEntityList;

ChunkSource *chunkSource;
Dimension *dimension;
Random *random;
LevelData *levelData;

int difficulty;
int seaLevel;
bool isClientSide;

Constructors

Level(shared_ptr<LevelStorage>, const wstring&, Dimension*, LevelSettings*)

constructor

Creates a new level with the specified storage, name, dimension, and settings.Parameters:

levelStorage - Shared pointer to level storage system
name - World name
dimension - Dimension instance (Overworld, Nether, End)
levelSettings - World generation and gameplay settings

Level(Level*, Dimension*)

constructor

Creates a dimension variant of an existing level.Parameters:

level - Source level to derive from
dimension - Target dimension

Block Access & Modification

getTile(int x, int y, int z)

int

Gets the block ID at the specified coordinates.Returns: Block/tile ID, or 0 if air or unloaded

getData(int x, int y, int z)

int

Gets the block metadata/data value at the specified coordinates.Returns: Block data value (0-15)

setTile(int x, int y, int z, int tile)

bool

Sets a block at the specified position with lighting and updates.Parameters:

x, y, z - Block coordinates
tile - Block ID to place

Returns: true if block was changed

setTileAndData(int x, int y, int z, int tile, int data)

bool

Sets both block ID and metadata at the specified position.Parameters:

x, y, z - Block coordinates
tile - Block ID to place
data - Metadata value (0-15)

Returns: true if block was changed

setTileNoUpdate(int x, int y, int z, int tile)

bool

Sets a block without triggering neighbor updates or lighting recalculation.Warning: Use sparingly - can cause lighting bugs if not followed by checkLight()

setData(int x, int y, int z, int data, bool forceUpdate)

void

Sets block metadata/data value.Parameters:

data - Metadata value (0-15)
forceUpdate - Force neighbor updates even if data unchanged

Chunk Management

hasChunk(int x, int z)

bool

Checks if a chunk is loaded (may return true for chunks being generated).Parameters:

x, z - Chunk coordinates (not block coordinates)

reallyHasChunk(int x, int z)

bool

Checks if a chunk is actually loaded and ready.Note: More strict than hasChunk() - doesn’t include chunks being generated

getChunk(int x, int z)

LevelChunk*

Gets a chunk, loading it if necessary.Returns: Pointer to chunk (never null - will load/generate if needed)

getChunkAt(int x, int z)

LevelChunk*

Gets the chunk containing the specified block coordinates.Parameters:

x, z - Block coordinates (will be converted to chunk coords)

Lighting

getBrightness(LightLayer::variety layer, int x, int y, int z)

int

Gets light level at coordinates for the specified layer.Parameters:

layer - LightLayer::Sky or LightLayer::Block
x, y, z - Block coordinates

Returns: Light level (0-15)

setBrightness(LightLayer::variety layer, int x, int y, int z, int brightness)

void

Sets light level at coordinates.Parameters:

brightness - Light level (0-15)

checkLight(int x, int y, int z, bool force, bool rootOnlyEmissive)

void

Recalculates lighting at the specified position.Parameters:

force - Force recalculation even if lighting appears correct
rootOnlyEmissive - Only recalculate emissive (block) lighting

getRawBrightness(int x, int y, int z, bool propagate)

int

Gets raw brightness combining sky and block light.Returns: Combined light level (0-15)

Entity Management

addEntity(shared_ptr<Entity> e)

bool

Adds an entity to the world.Returns: true if entity was added successfully

removeEntity(shared_ptr<Entity> e)

void

Marks an entity for removal on next tick.

getEntities(shared_ptr<Entity> except, AABB* bb)

vector<shared_ptr<Entity>>*

Gets all entities within a bounding box.Parameters:

except - Entity to exclude from results
bb - Axis-aligned bounding box

getEntitiesOfClass(const type_info& baseClass, AABB* bb)

vector<shared_ptr<Entity>>*

Gets entities of a specific type within a bounding box.Example:

auto players = level->getEntitiesOfClass(typeid(Player), boundingBox);

World Queries

getTopTile(int x, int z)

int

Gets the Y coordinate of the highest non-air block.Returns: Y coordinate of topmost solid block

canSeeSky(int x, int y, int z)

bool

Checks if a position has direct line of sight to the sky.

isEmptyTile(int x, int y, int z)

bool

Checks if a position contains air.

getBiome(int x, int z)

Biome*

Gets the biome at the specified coordinates.

getSeaLevel()

int

Gets the sea level for this world.Returns: Y coordinate of sea level (typically 63)

Time & Weather

getTime()

__int64

Gets the current world time in ticks.

setTime(__int64 time)

void

Sets the world time.

isDay()

bool

Checks if it’s currently daytime.

isRaining()

bool

Checks if it’s currently raining.

isThundering()

bool

Checks if there’s currently a thunderstorm.

setRainLevel(float rainLevel)

void

Sets rain intensity (0.0 to 1.0).

Tick & Update

tick()

void

Advances the world by one tick (1/20th of a second).Updates entities, tile entities, scheduled ticks, weather, and mob spawning.

tickEntities()

void

Updates all entities in the world.

MultiPlayerLevel Class

Client-side implementation of Level for multiplayer worlds. Header: Minecraft.Client/MultiPlayerLevel.h
Inherits: Level

Key Features

Receives world updates from server via ClientConnection
Manages chunk visibility and streaming
Handles entity synchronization
Supports multiple local players (split-screen)

Constructor

MultiPlayerLevel(ClientConnection*, LevelSettings*, int dimension, int difficulty)

constructor

Creates a multiplayer client-side level.Parameters:

connection - Connection to server
levelSettings - World settings
dimension - Dimension ID (0=Overworld, -1=Nether, 1=End)
difficulty - Difficulty level

Methods

setChunkVisible(int x, int z, bool visible)

void

Marks a chunk as visible or invisible to the client.Used for chunk streaming - invisible chunks can be unloaded.

putEntity(int id, shared_ptr<Entity> e)

void

Registers an entity with a network ID for synchronization.

getEntity(int id)

shared_ptr<Entity>

Gets an entity by its network ID.

removeEntity(int id)

shared_ptr<Entity>

Removes and returns an entity by network ID.

Example Usage

Basic Block Manipulation

// Get current block
int blockId = level->getTile(x, y, z);
int blockData = level->getData(x, y, z);

// Place a block
level->setTile(x, y, z, Tile::STONE);

// Place block with metadata
level->setTileAndData(x, y, z, Tile::LOG, 2); // Oak log, east-west orientation

Finding Entities

// Find all players within 10 blocks
AABB searchBox(x - 10, y - 10, z - 10, x + 10, y + 10, z + 10);
auto nearbyPlayers = level->getEntitiesOfClass(typeid(Player), &searchBox);

for (auto& player : *nearbyPlayers) {
    auto p = dynamic_pointer_cast<Player>(player);
    // Do something with player
}

Lighting Updates

// Place a torch and update lighting
level->setTile(x, y, z, Tile::TORCH);
level->checkLight(x, y, z, true, false);

// Get combined light level
int lightLevel = level->getRawBrightness(x, y, z, true);

Client

World

Rendering

Networking

Overview

Class Hierarchy

Level Class

Constants

Core Members

Constructors

Block Access & Modification

Chunk Management

Lighting

Entity Management

World Queries

Time & Weather

Tick & Update

MultiPlayerLevel Class

Key Features

Constructor

Methods

Example Usage

Basic Block Manipulation

Finding Entities

Lighting Updates

See Also

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Client

World

Rendering

Networking

​Overview

​Class Hierarchy

​Level Class

​Constants

​Core Members

​Constructors

​Block Access & Modification

​Chunk Management

​Lighting

​Entity Management

​World Queries

​Time & Weather

​Tick & Update

​MultiPlayerLevel Class

​Key Features

​Constructor

​Methods

​Example Usage

​Basic Block Manipulation

​Finding Entities

​Lighting Updates

​See Also

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Class Hierarchy

Level Class

Constants

Core Members

Constructors

Block Access & Modification

Chunk Management

Lighting

Entity Management

World Queries

Time & Weather

Tick & Update

MultiPlayerLevel Class

Key Features

Constructor

Methods

Example Usage

Basic Block Manipulation

Finding Entities

Lighting Updates

See Also