What are some common Minecraft terms I need to know before modding? Is there a Minecraft glossary?

Here are a few Minecraft terms you might want to know before beginning a modding session (especially as a parent or educator new to Minecraft). Want to dive deeper? Check out the Advanced Minecraft Glossary, too.

Absolute Position
A set of X, Y, Z coordinates that represents a single physical location in a Minecraft World. See also Relative Position.

Agent
A robot within the Minecraft world that you can control. Minecraft agents can mine, build, farm, and more. They even have their own Inventory! Think of your agent as a Minecraft mob that you can control with code.

Bedrock Edition
The latest and greatest version of Minecraft, sometimes nicknamed "Minecraft for Windows" or "Minecraft Pocket Edition." The alternative is Minecraft Java (sometimes called Minecraft Classic). When using Tynker tools for editing skins, items, mods, or mobs, make sure to select your preferred version of Minecraft before beginning. For best results, use Tynker with Minecraft: Bedrock Edition

Blocks
The fundamental "unit" of Minecraft. You can mine blocks, craft blocks, and place blocks. By editing a block using Tynker's Block Editor, you can change how blocks look — and change the texture of your world.

Crafting
Creating new items via raw materials — crafting can happen in your inventory or at workbenches. For example, a Gold Ingot can be crafted from 9 Gold Nuggets. Look at your Recipe Book for ideas when crafting, or search online for "Minecraft crafting recipes"

Creative Mode
A different way to play. Give yourself powers and invincibility immediately: Double-jump to fly around your world. You have infinite infinite resources and blocks, too. Get creative! Switch modes by using the /gamemode creative or /gamemode survival command in chat.

Chat
More than just a chatting function, Minecraft Chat can be used as a trigger for your mods, to report the results of programs, and much more. Press T to enter chat

Item
Usable in-game objects. Any object in a player's Inventory or in their hands is an item. Some familiar examples of items are: Apple, Diamond Pickaxe, and Fishing Rod

Java Edition (Minecraft Classic)
The first version of Minecraft that was ever released. Since the Java Edition was released, Minecraft was rewritten entirely as Minecraft Bedrock. Different versions of Minecraft are compatible with different courses on Tynker. When using Tynker tools for editing skins, items,or mobs, make sure to select your version of Minecraft before beginning. If possible, choose Minecraft: Bedrock Edition for best results.

Mob
"Mob" is Minecraft slang for animals, enemies, and anything else that moves. Think: Creepers and Endermen, but Pigs and Sea Turtles, too.

Mod (n.), Modding (v.)
An extension or "change in the rules" from normal Minecraft. Some popular mods include Spleef, Build Battles, and more. You can use mods that other people have written, or learn how to code your own.

Relative Position
A location in the Minecraft world that is described using a distance in particular direction from the user's current location. Relative location is indicated in code using the squiggly line ~, which is called a tilde (till-deh). See also Absolute Position.

Skin
A player's in-game appearance.

Spawn
When items appear in the user’s Minecraft world.

Summon
When creatures (mobs) appear in the user’s Minecraft world. Want to make a particular animal or enemy appear? Try using the command: /summon panda, replacing "panda" with whatever mob you like.

Survival Mode
The normal way to play. You can die — you must fight or avoid enemies to live. Build shelter and survive, if you can! Switch modes by using the /gamemode creative or /gamemode survival command.

Teleport
Move the user or Agent from their current location to another location in the Minecraft World, instantaneously.

Tynkerbot
A Minecraft agent that can be controlled by Tynker. Tynkerbot has special abilities above and beyond regular agents, though.