---
title: Block Update
description: "Play 0x08, server → client."
---

`play` · `0x08` · **clientbound** (server → client)

Changes a single block at `location` to the block state `type`. The server sends it when a block changes outside of chunk loading, such as when a player places or breaks a block. The client updates the block in its world and rerenders the chunk section.

Sent by the server, read by the client. Listen for it with `client.on("BlockUpdate", (data) => …)` on the receiving side.

## Fields

| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `location` | Position | also `position` |
| `type` | VarInt | also `subscriptionType` |

## Send it

```ts
import { helpers } from "mc-protocol";

// Stone at (10, 64, -3).
await client.sendPacket("BlockUpdate", {
  location: { x: 10, y: 64, z: -3 },
  type: helpers.getBlockStateId("stone"),
});

// Air (state ID 0) removes the block.
await client.sendPacket("BlockUpdate", { location: { x: 10, y: 64, z: -3 }, type: 0 });
```

`type` is a block state ID, not a block ID; `helpers.getBlockStateId` resolves names and properties. The chunk must already be loaded on the client. Send `SectionBlocksUpdate` for many blocks in one section.

Field aliases listed under Notes are accepted as alternative keys when writing.

Source: [`src/Core/Versions/776/Packets/play/clientbound/BlockUpdate.ts`](https://github.com/GDLev/mc-protocol/blob/master/src/Core/Versions/776/Packets/play/clientbound/BlockUpdate.ts)