---
title: "Blocks & hits"
description: "Block state properties at a position, and the fields of block and entity raycast hits."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://aesthetic-docs.pages.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Blocks & hits

## Block state

`world:block_state(pos)` returns a live handle; a block raycast hit carries the same thing in
its `state` field.

| Method | Returns |
|--------|---------|
| `id()`, `name()` | Block id (`"minecraft:chest"`) and display name |
| `position()` | The queried position, floored, as [vec3](/vec3) |
| `air()`, `liquid()`, `solid()`, `replaceable()` | Kind flags; `replaceable` means you can build over it |
| `burnable()` | Fire consumes it |
| `tool_required()` | Drops only with the right tool |
| `opaque()`, `full_cube()`, `has_collision()` | Shape flags |
| `has_block_entity()` | Carries extra data, like a chest or furnace |
| `random_ticks()` | Receives random ticks |
| `emits_redstone()` | Emits redstone power |
| `piston_behavior()` | `"normal"`, `"destroy"`, `"block"`, `"push_only"`, … |
| `hardness()`, `blast_resistance()` | Mining time and explosion resistance |
| `slipperiness()` | `0.6` normal, `0.98` ice |
| `velocity_multiplier()`, `jump_velocity_multiplier()` | Soul sand and honey movement modifiers |
| `luminance()`, `opacity()` | Light emitted (`0–15`) and light blocked |
| `map_color()` | Map color as a signed RGB integer, not `0xAARRGGBB` |
| `properties()` | State properties as strings |
| `fluid()` | `{id, level, still}` when it holds fluid, or `nil` |
| `tags()` | Block tag ids, e.g. `"minecraft:mineable/pickaxe"` |

Property values are strings, including the booleans:

```lua
local b = world:block_state(pos)
if b and b:properties().lit == "true" then
print(b:name() .. " is lit")
end
```

## Raycast hits

`world:raycast`, `world:raycast_entity` and `player:raycast` return a plain table. Check
`type` first, since `player:raycast` returns either kind.

| Field | On | Meaning |
|-------|-----|---------|
| `type` | both | `"block"` or `"entity"` |
| `pos` | both | Exact hit point as [vec3](/vec3) |
| `distance` | both | From ray start to hit |
| `block_pos` | block | Hit block position as [vec3](/vec3) |
| `side` | block | Hit face: `"up"`, `"down"`, `"north"`, `"south"`, `"east"`, `"west"` |
| `inside` | block | `true` when the ray started inside the block |
| `state` | block | Block state handle of the hit block |
| `entity` | entity | [Entity handle](/entity) that was hit |

```lua
local hit = player:raycast(20)
if hit then
if hit.type == "entity" then
    print("looking at " .. hit.entity:name())
else
    print("looking at " .. hit.state:name() .. " (" .. hit.side .. ")")
end
end
```

Source: https://aesthetic-docs.pages.dev/blocks/index.md