client.jar

This feature is exclusive to Java Edition.

 

client.jar

Author(s)	Mojang Studios
Platform(s)	and other platforms that support running a JVM
Written in	Java
Latest version	Release: 1.21.11 Snapshot: 26.1 Snapshot 6
Release date	May 16, 2009 (mc-161607)
Size	≈ 53 MiB (1.21.11) ≈ 74 MiB (as of 26.1 Snapshot 6)
License	EULA
Source available	Partial
Links	Website

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client.jar is a JAR file containing the Minecraft program and some default resources. It is launched by the user using the Minecraft Launcher.

The client.jar file is named using the version number after download, e.g., 1.21.5.jar. The name client.jar is used on the distribution server, and commonly as a general term for all versions of the file. It is located at .minecraft/versions/version/version.jar, next to the client.json file.

It can be opened with a file archiving program that supports ZIP files.

Contents

The file contains some, but not all, default resources. For instance, textures from the vanilla resource pack are stored here, but sound files are stored separately.

It also stores the Minecraft program in form of Java class files. These files have names such as "acq" or "qn", because they have been obfuscated with the ProGuard tool to hide the original names.‌^{[until JE 26.1]} However, they can still be disassembled or decompiled to understand their functionality and aid modding, and can be deobfuscated using the official obfuscation maps or community-created obfuscation maps such as Yarn.

Directory structure

The client.jar file has the following directory structure. Note that Java class files have been omitted for brevity.

•  version.jar
• •  META-INF: Information for the JVM, including signature information, which may be used to check if the game is modified.
    •  LICENSE
    •  MANIFEST.MF
    •  MOJANGCS.RSA
    •  MOJANGCS.SF
  •  assets: The vanilla resource pack.
    •  minecraft

      •  atlases
      •  blockstates
      •  font
        •  include
      •  items
      •  lang
        •  en_us.json: The default language file.
      •  models
      •  particles
      •  shaders
      •  texts
        •  splashes.txt: Splash text file.
        •  end.txt: End poem text file.
        •  postcredits.txt
        •  credits.json
      •  textures
      •  gpu_warnlist.json: 76 byte file to check and warn about incompatible GPUs.
      •  regional_compliancies.json: 301 byte file to check and warn users in-game playing for too long in South Korea.
    •  .mcassetsroot: Empty file identifying the vanilla resource pack.
  •  com
    •  mojang
      •  blaze3d
      •  realmsclient
      •  math
  •  data: The vanilla data pack.
    •  minecraft

      •  advancement
      •  banner_pattern
      •  cat_variant
      •  chat_type
      •  chicken_variant
      •  cow_variant
      •  damage_type
      •  datapacks
        •  minecart_improvements: The Minecart Improvements data pack.
        •  redstone_improvements: The Redstone Improvements data pack.
        •  trade_rebalance: The Villager Trade Rebalance data pack.
      •  dialog
        •  custom_options.json
        •  quick_actions.json
        •  server_links.json
      •  dimension_type
      •  enchantment
      •  enchantment_provider
        •  raid
      •  frog_variant
      •  instrument
      •  jukebox_song
      •  loot_table
      •  painting_variant
      •  pig_variant
      •  recipe
      •  structure: Structure data.
      •  tags
      •  test_environment: Introduced in 1.21.5.
      •  test_instance: Introduced in 1.21.5.
      •  timeline: Timeline data.
      •  trade_set
      •  trial_spawner: Trial spawner data. Introduced in 1.21.
      •  trim_material
      •  trim_pattern
      •  villager_trade
      •  wolf_variant
      •  wolf_sound_variant
      •  world_clock​^{[upcoming JE 26.1]}
      •  worldgen
      •  zombie_nautilus_variant
    •  .mcassetsroot: Empty file identifying the vanilla data pack.
  •  net
    •  minecraft
      •  client
      •  data
      •  obfuscate
      •  server
      •  util
  •  flightrecorder-config.jfc
  •  pack.png: Vanilla resource pack and data pack icon.
  •  version.json

History

See also

• Bedrock Edition installation files, which contain the game client executable for Bedrock Edition.
• .minecraft
• server.jar

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