Bukkit Color Codes
Quickly reference our list of Bukkit color codes and format codes to style your chat messages, server welcome messages/MOTD and in-game text.
Bukkit Text Preview
List of Bukkit Color Codes
COLOR | NAME | CHAT CODE | MOTD CODE | HEX CODE | ACTIONS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black (black) | &0 | \u00A70 | #000000 | ||
Dark Blue (dark_blue) | &1 | \u00A71 | #0000AA | ||
Dark Green (dark_green) | &2 | \u00A72 | #00AA00 | ||
Dark Aqua (dark_aqua) | &3 | \u00A73 | #00AAAA | ||
Dark Red (dark_red) | &4 | \u00A74 | #AA0000 | ||
Dark Purple (dark_purple) | &5 | \u00A75 | #AA00AA | ||
Gold (gold) | &6 | \u00A76 | #FFAA00 | ||
Gray (gray) | &7 | \u00A77 | #AAAAAA | ||
Dark Gray (dark_gray) | &8 | \u00A78 | #555555 | ||
Blue (blue) | &9 | \u00A79 | #5555FF | ||
Green (green) | &a | \u00A7a | #55FF55 | ||
Aqua (aqua) | &b | \u00A7b | #55FFFF | ||
Red (red) | &c | \u00A7c | #FF5555 | ||
Light Purple (light_purple) | &d | \u00A7d | #FF55FF | ||
Yellow (yellow) | &e | \u00A7e | #FFFF55 | ||
White (white) | &f | \u00A7f | #FFFFFF |
List of Bukkit Format Codes
NAME | CODE | MOTD CODE | DESCRIPTION | ACTIONS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bold | &l | \u00A7l | Makes text bold | |
Italic | &o | \u00A7o | Makes text italic | |
Underline | &n | \u00A7n | Underlines text | |
Strikethrough | &m | \u00A7m | Adds a line through text | |
Obfuscated | &k | \u00A7k | Makes text appear as random characters | |
Reset | &r | \u00A7r | Resets all formatting |
How to Use Bukkit Color Codes
Bukkit is a popular API for creating Minecraft server plugins. It allows server administrators and plugin developers to add colored text to chat messages, signs, server MOTDs (Message of the Day), and more.
Where to Use Bukkit Color Codes
Bukkit color codes can be used in various contexts:
- Plugin Configuration Files: Many plugins allow color codes in their config files
- Server MOTD: Make your server's welcome message more attractive
- Chat Messages: Send colored messages through plugins
- Custom Commands: Create commands that output colorful text
- Signs: Add colors to signs (with appropriate plugins)
- Scoreboards: Customize scoreboard displays
Color Code Usage
Unlike standard Minecraft which uses the § symbol, Bukkit typically uses the &symbol for color codes. For example, &a
creates light green text.
Bukkit also supports text formatting codes:
- &l: Bold text
- &m: Strikethrough text
- &n: Underlined text
- &o: Italic text
- &k: Obfuscated/randomly changing text
- &r: Reset all formatting
Examples of Using Bukkit Color Codes
In Plugin Configurations:
welcome-message: "&aWelcome to &6Our Server!"
This will display "Welcome to" in light green and "Our Server!" in gold.
In MOTD Configuration:
motd: "&b&l██&e&l██ &r&aWelcome to Our Minecraft Server! &b&l██&e&l██"
In Plugin Code:
String message = ChatColor.translateAlternateColorCodes('&', "&cThis is &bold&4red text");
Important Notes for Developers
- When using color codes in plugin code, you need to use
ChatColor.translateAlternateColorCodes()
to convert&
codes to the internal format - Some plugins may automatically translate color codes, while others require specific configuration
- The Bukkit API also offers direct methods like
ChatColor.RED
andChatColor.BOLD
for use in Java code
Tips & Tricks for Bukkit Text Formatting
Color Combinations
Combine multiple color and format codes for rich text formatting:
&l&4Bold Red &r&eYellow Normal
Plugin Configuration
Many popular plugins support color codes in their config files:
# Example Essentials config motd: - '&aWelcome to our server!' - '&eEnjoy your stay!'
Note: Configuration syntax varies between plugins; check their documentation.
Advanced Usage for Developers
Java Plugin Code Examples
Using ChatColor Methods:
// Direct ChatColor usage player.sendMessage(ChatColor.GREEN + "This is green text " + ChatColor.RED + "and this is red text"); // Using translateAlternateColorCodes String coloredMessage = ChatColor.translateAlternateColorCodes('&', "&aThis is green text &cand this is red text"); player.sendMessage(coloredMessage); // Creating a utility method public String colorize(String message) { return ChatColor.translateAlternateColorCodes('&', message); }
Performance Tips:
- Cache translated strings when possible instead of converting the same string repeatedly
- Consider using a StringBuilder for complex message construction
- For config files, translate colors once when loading rather than on every use
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Bukkit color codes?
Bukkit color codes are special codes used in Minecraft servers running Bukkit, Spigot, or Paper to add colors and formatting to text. Unlike vanilla Minecraft which uses the § symbol, Bukkit typically uses the & symbol for color codes, making them easier to type in configuration files.
These codes are supported by most plugins and can be used in various parts of your server configuration.
How do I use color codes in my Bukkit server's MOTD?
To use color codes in your server's Message of the Day (MOTD), add the color codes with the & symbol to your server.properties file. For example:
motd=&aWelcome to &bMy Server!
This would display 'Welcome to' in light green and 'My Server!' in aqua blue. After changing the MOTD, remember to restart your server for the changes to take effect.
How do I use Bukkit color codes in my plugin's code?
In Java plugin code, you need to use the ChatColor.translateAlternateColorCodes() method to convert & codes to the internal format. For example:
String colorizedText = ChatColor.translateAlternateColorCodes('&', "&aColored &btext");
Alternatively, you can use the ChatColor enum directly:
player.sendMessage(ChatColor.GREEN + "This is green text");
Do Bukkit color codes work in all Minecraft servers?
Bukkit color codes specifically work on servers running Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, or other Bukkit-based server software. They won't work on vanilla Minecraft servers or other server types like Forge (unless they have specific plugins installed to handle them).
If you're using a vanilla Minecraft server, you'll need to use the § symbol instead, which is harder to type directly but can be included in server files.
Enhance Your Minecraft Server
Try our interactive tool to preview and copy Bukkit color codes for your server configuration
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