String

String is an item used in crafting recipes such as bows, fishing rods and leads. When placed as a block, string becomes tripwire, which can be combined with tripwire hooks to form a tripwire circuit.

Obtaining[]

String can be obtained from drops, breaking cobwebs, fishing, bartering, and as gifts from cats. String can be looted from jungle temples, desert pyramid chests, and dungeons.

Breaking[]

Tripwire can be mined instantly with any tool, dropping string. Tripwire is also removed and drops string as an item when:

• Water flows into its space
• A piston pushes it or moves a block into its space

Tripwire is destroyed without dropping string if lava flows into its space.

A cobweb drops string when it is broken in these ways (see also Cobweb § Usage):

• Breaking a cobweb with a sword
• Pushing a cobweb with a piston
• Water breaking a cobweb by flowing over it (flowing lava destroys cobwebs without leaving string)

Natural generation[]

Five pieces of tripwire generate naturally in every jungle temple.

Mob loot[]

Spiders and cave spiders drop 0–2 string upon death. The maximum is increased by 1 per level of Looting, for a maximum of 0–5 string with Looting III.

Striders drop 2–5 string upon death. The maximum is increased by 1 per level of Looting, for a maximum of 2–8 string with Looting III.‌^{[JE only]}

Cats drop 0–2 string upon death, unaffected by Looting.^[1]

Chest loot[]

Item	Structure	Container	Quantity	Chance
Java Edition
String	Dungeon	Chest	1–8	57.8%
	Bastion remnant	Generic chest	4–6	24.4%
		Hoglin stable chest	3��8	22.8%
		Bridge chest	1–6	47.9%
	Desert temple	Chest	1–8	59%
	Pillager Outpost	Chest	1–6	39.1%
	Trail ruins	Suspicious gravel	1	2.2%
	Woodland mansion	Chest	1–8	57.8%
Bedrock Edition
String	Dungeon	Chest	1–8	57.8%
	Bastion remnant	Generic chest	4–6	24.4%
		Hoglin stable chest	3–8	22.8%
		Bridge chest	1–6	47.9%
	Desert temple	Chest	1–8	59%
	Pillager Outpost	Chest	1–6	39.1%
	Trail ruins	Suspicious gravel	1	2.2%
	Woodland mansion	Chest	1–8	57.8%

Fishing[]

String has a 0.6% (³⁄₅₀₀) chance of being caught when fishing with an unenchanted fishing rod. The chance decreases to 0.5% (¹⁄₂₀₀), 0.4% (¹⁄₂₅₀), and 0.3% (³⁄₁₀₀₀) if the fishing rod is enchanted with Luck of the Sea at enchantment levels I, II, and III, respectively.

Cat gifts[]

Tamed cats have a 70% chance of giving the player a gift when they wake up from a bed, and the gift has a 16.13% chance to be a string.

Bartering[]

Piglins may barter 3-9 string when given a gold ingot.

Usage[]

String can be used as a crafting ingredient and tripwire can be used as a redstone circuit component. It can also be used to keep players from ender-pearling through that space.

Crafting ingredient[]

Name	Ingredients	Crafting recipe	Description
Bow	Stick + String
Bundle	String + Rabbit Hide		[only experimental "bundle"]
Candle	String + Honeycomb
Crossbow	Stick + Iron Ingot + String + Tripwire Hook
Fishing Rod	Stick + String
Lead	String + Slimeball	2
Loom	String + Any Planks
Scaffolding	Bamboo + String	6
White Wool	String

Redstone component[]

String can be placed as tripwire, which can be used to detect entities as part of a tripwire circuit. Observers can also be used with a tripwire to generate redstone signals.

Placement

To place tripwire, use string while pointing at a surface facing the space the tripwire should occupy.

In order to activate tripwire hooks, tripwire must be part of a "tripwire circuit": a straight line of blocks consisting of a block with a tripwire hook attached to it, a "tripwire line" (1 to 40 blocks of tripwire), and a second tripwire hook attached to another block.

Activation

Tripwire activates if almost any entity (players, mobs, minecarts, boats, items, arrows, etc.) intersects its collision mask. The tripwire remains active until there are no entities intersecting its collision mask. Thrown potions, some arrows, thrown ender pearls, and thrown eyes of ender do not activate tripwire.

Behavior

An active tripwire updates adjacent blocks (for example, it can activate a BUD circuit). Additionally, active tripwires that are part of valid tripwire circuits cause the attached tripwire hooks to activate (producing redstone power). Active tripwires do not themselves produce redstone power.

When tripwire is broken (including by being washed away by spreading water in Java Edition) after being part of a valid tripwire circuit, it activates the attached tripwire hooks. In Java Edition, it activates for 5 redstone ticks (10 game ticks, or 0.5 seconds barring lag). In Bedrock Edition, it activates for 6 redstone ticks (14 game ticks, or 0.6 seconds barring lag). It does not produce the signal if it is broken using shears.

Trading[]

Novice-level fisherman villagers have a 50% chance to buy 20 string as part of their first-tier trade.

Journeyman-level fletcher villagers buy 14 string for 1 emerald as part of their trade.

Sounds[]

Generic[]

Java Edition:

Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.stone.break	subtitles.block.generic.break	1.0	0.8	16
	Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.stone.place	subtitles.block.generic.place	1.0	0.8	16
	Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.stone.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit	0.25	0.5	16
	None[sound 1]	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.stone.fall	None[sound 1]	0.5	0.75	16
	Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.stone.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	When the block is placed	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.stone	0.27 [sound 1]	0.5
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.stone	0.4	1.0
	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	0.3	1.0
	Players	Jumping from the block	jump.stone	0.12	1.0
	Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.stone	0.22	1.0

Unique[]

Java Edition:

Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	Tripwire attaches	Blocks	When a tripwire line is completed	block.tripwire.attach	subtitles.block.tripwire.attach	0.4	0.7	16
	Tripwire clicks	Blocks	When a tripwire line deactivates	block.tripwire.click_off	subtitles.block.tripwire.click	0.4	0.5	16
	Tripwire clicks	Blocks	When a tripwire line activates	block.tripwire.click_on	subtitles.block.tripwire.click	0.4	0.6	16
	Tripwire detaches	Blocks	When a tripwire hook in a tripwire line is destroyed	block.tripwire.detach	subtitles.block.tripwire.detach	0.4	12⁄11-4⁄3	16

Bedrock Edition:

Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	When a tripwire line is completed	block.click	0.2	0.7
	Blocks	When a tripwire line deactivates	random.click	0.2	0.5
	Blocks	When a tripwire line activates	random.click	0.2	0.6
	Blocks	When a tripwire hook in a tripwire line is destroyed	block.bowhit	0.4	1.1-1.33

Data values[]

ID[]

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Tripwire	tripwire	Block	wall_post_override	block.minecraft.tripwire
String	string	Item	—	item.minecraft.string

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Alias ID	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID[i 1]	Translation key
Tripwire	trip_wire	tripWire	132	Block & Ungiveable Item[i 2]	trip_wire	tile.tripWire.name
String	string	None	326	Item	—	item.string.name

Block states[]

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
attached	false	false true	True if the tripwire is connected to a valid tripwire circuit.
disarmed	false	false true	True if the tripwire is disarmed, that is, broken using shears.
east	false	false true	True if the tripwire connects to other tripwire or tripwire hooks to the east.
north	false	false true	True if the tripwire connects to other tripwire or tripwire hooks to the north.
powered	false	false true	True if the tripwire is active.
south	false	false true	True if the tripwire connects to other tripwire or tripwire hooks to the south.
west	false	false true	True if the tripwire connects to other tripwire or tripwire hooks to the west.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
attached_bit	0x4	false	false true	0 1	True if the tripwire is connected to a valid tripwire circuit.
disarmed_bit	0x8	false	false true	0 1	True if the tripwire is disarmed, that is, broken using shears.
powered_bit	0x1	false	false true	0 1	True if the tripwire is active.
suspended_bit	0x2	true	false true	0 1	True if the tripwire hasn't connected to a valid tripwire circuit. (makes hitbox larger when true)

Video[]

History[]

Java Edition Indev
0.31		20100129			Added string.
		20100130			Bows can now be crafted using string.
		20100201-2			Cloth can now be crafted using nine string.
20100219					Spiders now drop string.
Java Edition Infdev
20100625-2					String can now be found inside chests in the new dungeons.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.1.1					String can now be used to craft fishing rods.
Java Edition Beta
1.5					Introduced cobwebs, which drop string when broken with a sword.
1.6.6					Wool is now crafted from four string rather than nine.
1.7					Cobwebs now drop string when broken using shears.
1.8		Pre-release			Cobwebs now generate naturally, making them a viable method to obtain string.
Java Edition
May 28, 2012					Tripwire was first revealed on Dinnerbone's Twitter.[2][3] Dinnerbone released a video showing him experimenting with tripwire before its release.
1.3.1		12w22a			String can now be placed on the ground as tripwire.
		12w23a			Tripwire can now activated by most entities (including arrows).
					The max distance of tripwire has now been increased from 18 to 40 blocks.
					Tripwire now has a translucent texture.
1.6.1		13w18a			String can now be used to craft leads.
1.8		14w02a			String can now be sold to fletcher and fisherman villagers, at 15–20 string for 1 emerald.
		release			Tripwire is now translucent.
1.9		15w44a			String now generates in desert temple chests.
					The average yield of string in dungeon chests has now more than doubled.
		15w49a			The suspended block state has now been removed from tripwire.
1.11		16w39a			String can now be found in woodland mansion chests.
1.13		17w47a			Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 132 and the item's was 287.
					Tripwire can now be disarmed.
1.14		18w43a			String can now be used to craft crossbows and a loom.
					The texture of string has now been changed.
		18w44a			Cats now drop 0-2 string upon death.
					Cats now offer string as gifts.
		18w45a			String can now be used to craft scaffolding.
		18w47a			String can now be found inside pillager outpost chests.
1.16		20w09a			String can now be obtained through bartering with piglins.
		20w13a			Striders now drop string upon death.
		20w16a			String now generates in bastion remnant chests.
1.17		20w45a			String can now be used to craft bundles and candles.
		21w13a			The model of the tripwire has been tweaked that the underside texture is mirrored.
		21w19a			String can no longer be used to craft bundles and candles.
		Pre-release 1			String can once again used to craft candles.
1.18		Experimental Snapshot 1			String can now once again be used to craft bundles.
		21w37a			String once again can no longer be used to craft bundles.
1.20 (Experimental)		22w42a			String can now once again be used to craft bundles.
		23w07a			String can now be used to craft brushes.
		1.19.4-pre1			String can no longer be used to craft brushes.
1.20		23w12a			String can now be found in suspicious gravel and suspicious sand in trail ruins.
		23w16a			String no longer generates in suspicious sand in trail ruins.
					Due to the split of the archaeological loot tables for the suspicious gravel within the trail ruins; string now is in the common loot.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.2.0					Added string. It is currently unobtainable and serves no purpose.
v0.3.3					Added spiders, which drop string when they die.
					String can now be used to craft bows.
v0.4.0					String can now be crafted into wool.
v0.11.0		build 1			String can now be used to craft fishing rods.
					String can now be caught as a junk item from fishing.
v0.13.0		build 1			String can now be placed on the ground as a tripwire.
					String can now be found in desert temple chests.
v0.15.0		build 1			String can now be used to craft leads.
					Tripwire now generates in jungle temples.
Pocket Edition
1.0.4		alpha 1.0.4.0			15-20 String can now be sold to fletcher and fisherman villagers for an emerald.
1.1.0		alpha 1.1.0.0			String can now be found in woodland mansion chests.
					Cobwebs can now be used to craft 9 string.
Bedrock Edition
1.8.0		beta 1.8.0.8			Tamed cats can now give the player string as gifts.
					String can now be used to craft scaffolding.
					Cats now drop 0–2 string.
		beta 1.8.0.10			String can now be used to craft crossbows.
1.9.0		beta 1.9.0.0			Tripwire string that is broken now activates, unless broken with shears.
1.10.0		beta 1.10.0.3			String can now be found in pillager outpost chests.
					String can now be used to craft a loom.
					The texture of string has now been changed.
1.11.0		beta 1.11.0.4			Trading has now been changed, fisherman villagers now have a 50% chance to buy 20 string as part of their first-tier trade.
					Fletcher villagers now buy 14 string for an emerald as their third-tier trade.
1.16.0		beta 1.16.0.57			String can now be obtained through bartering with piglins.
					Added striders, which drop string upon death.
					String can now be found in bastion remnant chests.
1.17.10		beta 1.17.10.22			String can now be used to craft candles.
1.18.30		beta 1.18.30.26			The ID of tripwire block is changed from tripWire to trip_wire
1.20.10		beta 1.20.10.20			String can no longer be crafted from cobwebs.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1	CU1	1.0	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added string.
TU14		1.04			String can now be placed on the ground as tripwire.
		1.88			Tripwires are now activated when broken, unless broken with shears.
		1.90			The texture of string has now been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0					Added string.

Tripwire "item"[]

The following content is transcluded from Technical blocks/Tripwire.

Java Edition
1.3.1		12w22a			Tripwire has an unobtainable item form corresponding to its block ID. It can be obtained via the /give command or inventory editors with numeric item ID 132.
1.7.2		13w37a			The direct item form of tripwire has been removed from the game. It can no longer exist as an item in any way, only as a placed block.
Pocket Edition Alpha
?					Tripwire exists as an item.

Appearances[]

Java Edition
1.3.1		12w22a			The tripwire item uses this texture in inventories, when held in first or third person view or as a dropped item.
		12w23a			The main tripwire texture has changed to be translucent. However, as items did not support translucency at this time, all translucent pixels appear opaque. This may or may not have produced any actual visible change.
1.4.2		12w34a			The tripwire item now uses the aforementioned texture when in an item frame.

Names[]

Java Edition

• 12w22a - 13w36b: Tripwire

Issues[]

Issues relating to "String" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Gallery[]

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Screenshots[]

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  The first image of tripwires released by Mojang.

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  An image released by Mojang testing visibility of tripwires from a distance at night.

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  The same room viewed from the same angle, in daytime.

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  Power lines made of suspended string blocks.

References[]

External Links[]

• Taking Inventory: String – Minecraft.net on May 14, 2020