Description
A dropper is a simple redstone block that holds items and drops them out into the world when it gets a redstone signal. It looks similar to other redstone blocks but its purpose is purely to move items in their item form. When activated a dropper will spit the item out whether that is into open air into a hopper that sits in front of it or into a chest that receives items. This predictable behaviour makes droppers useful in item transport lines and simple sorting systems because they do not attempt to use or activate the item they only move it. In practice players combine droppers with hoppers observers and redstone clocks to create compact machines that move items between storage rooms or distribute goods to different processing stations. Because the block is cheap to craft it is useful in early automation projects where you want to remove manual hauling chores. Dropper systems scale well so as your storage needs grow you can extend lines and clocks to handle larger flows of items.
What is Dropper?
The dropper is a redstone enabled block that drops items from its internal inventory when triggered. It is best thought of as a basic mechanical courier that ejects items. Unlike a dispenser the dropper does not activate the item it simply releases the item as an entity so it is ideal when you only need to move items.
Where to find Dropper
Droppers do not generate naturally in most worlds and are usually crafted and placed by players. They may appear in custom maps or in structures created by map makers but in standard gameplay you will mainly encounter droppers in player built redstone contraptions and automation setups.
How to get Dropper
Craft a dropper with cobblestone and a redstone component following the standard recipe. Once built place it where you want it in your system and break it with a pickaxe if you need to move it. In creative mode the block is available directly from the building menu without crafting.
Release Information
First introduced: Introduced in early redstone updates
Give Command
give @p minecraft:dropper 1
How to use Dropper
Use droppers to move items between storage and processing areas by powering them with redstone. They are commonly paired with hoppers to push items from storage into distribution lines and with timers to control the flow rate. For simple item transport chains place the dropper so it faces a receiving container and activate it with a redstone pulse to move items reliably.
Recipes for Dropper
Shaped Crafting Items must be placed in a specific pattern in a crafting table
Stone
Stone
Stone
Stone
Empty Slot
Stone
Stone
Redstone
Stone
Dropper
