Talk:Items model definition

This page talks about files in the :assets/minecraft/items: directory, and refers to those as "item models" or "items models". There's already another topic on this wiki talking about files in the :assets/minecraft/models/item: directory, and those are also referred to as "item models". This raises confusion, as I'm not sure what is being referred to when I read "item model". The files handled by this page don't even define models, unlike the files in :.../models/item:. The files in :.../items: are better described as processing models.

Because of the confusion caused by the overlap in terminology between :.../models/item: and :.../items:, I think the term defined for :.../items: should be changed. The option I propose is "item processors", because I think it better defines what the files do. I've also thought of "item data", but because these files don't go in data packs, I don't think it's preferable. RubberCrowy (talk) 18:25, 14 March 2025 (UTC)

It's... a proposal, but you need to talk on that with Mojang who always use the terms "Items models" since their introduction during the 24w45a.

I understand the confusion your raise, but this is a problem of conflict between a technical use and common use of the same terminology:

• files in minecraft/models/item/, commonly called "Items models", are models for rendering the 3D object of a items, but the use of the path /models/item/ it just a convention to store in a easy way the differents models betewen the one for blocks and for the items, since both use the same format.
• files in minecraft/items/*, technicaly called "Items models", are a specific format to select wich model to use for rendering this item with this specified propreties. The model can be anywhere in minecraft/models/ folder.

Personaly, I think that since we here in on the technical side of Resource pack making, we need to use technical definition as possible. Technical definition wich a mostly defined by Mojang, so if their talk about "Items model" for this format, it's "Items models".

Else, the term "processors" is nice, its describe realy well the behavior and purpose of the format, so I will look to add it in the lead of the page. EDIT: Lead reformuled to include it.

PS: Beside, when I create this page, I greatly hesitated to name it just "Items model" like Mojang, but I feel that could be confusing with the common use of models for items, so I added 'definition' to the page name to increase the distinction betewen both, all while maintaining the name "Items model" as Mojang use (so no, your not the first to be confused by the term :p).

–un_pogaz ^talk 11:09, 15 March 2025 (UTC)

I wasn't aware Mojang came up with the term "item model" for this. I don't understand why they thought that was a good idea, especially because they mentioned the models used for items in the same section they introduced "item models" in. I'm not convinced this means the official term should be used, though, as it's too confusing. However, if "item models" don't get a new term for them, then I think the pre-existing :.../models/item: files should be renamed to "raw item models" on this wiki, although then block models should also be referred to as "raw" models for consistency, which doesn't really work since they don't get processed aside from with block states. Maybe "item models" could instead be called item model processors? "Item model" would be in the name.

Honestly, Mojang really messed things up when calling the files in :.../items: "item models". They just made things very confusing, and I think something should be done about that, whether the community decides on a different term or if Mojang decides on a different term.

Also, about you putting "definition" on the end of this pages name to reduce confusion, I don't think that really works. I mean, usually when a page ends with "definition" it talks about the file format of something that both has gameplay relevance and datapack relevance. For instance, there's the Structure page handling the structures found throughout a player's world, and there's the Structure definition page handling the format of JSON files in :data/<namespace>/worldgen/structure:. I'm glad you tried to reduce confusion with this; I'm just giving criticism and/or feedback. RubberCrowy (talk) 15:05, 15 March 2025 (UTC)

Well "definition" has also this usage here too. It just that, on the contrary of things like Structure definition who as prety linear in there format, "Item model" are highly modulable, with each module representing a very specific behavior and sometimes able to incorporate other modules as childs, resulting on a very "explosed" representation with each section describing one module. –un_pogaz ^talk 15:53, 15 March 2025 (UTC)

Yeah, I thought about it a bit, and felt like "definition" should probably stay in the pages name.

I've been suggesting the term "item processors" to replace "item models", but I'm not sure about that. There's already the stuff in :.../worldgen/processor_list:, which are referred to as processors and aren't really similar to the stuff in :.../files:.

I went ahead and changed all instances of "item model" on the page to instead be "items model", just to avoid the issue I ran in to where I didn't know if "item model" was being used to refer to :.../items: or :.../models/item:. Even of it's not a perfect rename, it should be enough to avoid confusion on what's being talked about. RubberCrowy (talk) 16:16, 15 March 2025 (UTC)

I agree that the name "Item models" causes a lot of confusion with the already existing raw JSON models for items. However, this name was unfortunately chosen by Mojang, and it would create even more confusion if we name this page to something else. I think we should keep the page name as it is but add a clarification at the beginning of the first paragraph with an alternative name that is most popular in the community.

For example: Item models (also know as *something*) — are processor files used by the game to define and select...

I also think that "item processors" is not a great name for them. It creates unnecessary associations with worldgen processors and is not widely used in the community. In my opinion, "Item states" suits them much better, by analogy with Blockstates, as they essentially do the same thing, but for items. Ramgmaa (talk) 14:13, 27 March 2025 (UTC)

"Item states" its a good suggestion, but I will wait if community made and use such alternative name to add that kind of element. –un_pogaz ^talk 15:04, 27 March 2025 (UTC)

Article titles should generally be singular, see MCW:TITLE. Also their is only one format definition for Items model. –un_pogaz ^talk 16:06, 26 November 2025 (UTC)

See the source after "Items model" 👁 Image
NmF (talk) 16:22, 26 November 2025 (UTC)