Material Lib
Material Lib is a library for Fabric and NeoForge that lets other mod authors define vanilla-style materials through one shared system.
What it does
Developers who build material-based content can register a material once and receive its tools, armor, items and blocks from the library, instead of writing the same registration code again. The library also automates datagen item and block registration and includes utility methods for loot modifiers and filling creative inventories. The library adds no items or blocks of its own.
TheElementGuy's More Metals and Ores depends on Material Lib and uses it to supply its metals. Material Lib runs on client and server, so the server and every player need it. Files are published for Fabric and NeoForge across six game versions, 1.21.4 – 26.2, under the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 license, which is not open source. The latest builds, 26.2.0.4 for Fabric and 26.2.0.9 for NeoForge, were released on 2026-06-20.
Key features
Unified material system
A single material definition drives the related tools, armor and items, which reduces repeated code in a mod.
Automated registration
Item and block registration for datagen is generated from the material definition instead of being written by hand.
Javadoc throughout
The source code carries Javadoc comments on its public classes and methods, which helps developers read the API.
Utility methods
Helpers for loot modifiers and creative inventory filling are provided for mods that use materials.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Required by 1 mod
Use cases
Who it’s for: Mod developers who build content around materials, such as ores, tools and armor, and players who install material packs built on the library.
How it compares
Kielson's API is open source under the MIT License and is published only for Fabric, for 1.21 – 26.2. Trashlib is open source under the MIT License, supports Fabric and NeoForge, and is published for 1.21.4 only. Unified API is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only, supports Fabric and NeoForge, and is published for 1.21.11 – 26.3, and works on either side, and neither needs it. Material Lib differs from these in its license, which is not open source, and in its client and server environment.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Lib | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21.4 – 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-06-20 |
| Kielson's API | Fabric | 1.21 – 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-08-06 |
| Trashlib | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21.4 | Client and server | 2025-06-22 |
| Unified API | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21.11 – 26.3 | Client or server, optional | 2026-10-15 |
Questions
Does More Metals and Ores need Material Lib?
Does Material Lib have to be installed on the server?
Which loaders does Material Lib support?
In the catalog
Material Lib is one of 3,514 Library mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,348 Library mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.
More from TheElementGuy
Similar mods
What the author says
This is just a library mod and won't add anything on its own. It is used in TheElementGuy's More Metals and Ores, my other mod. Each version starts with the minor and then the patch version of its corresponding Minecraft version. The parent mod should inform you of which version to use.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/material-lib
- Owner
- TheElementGuy
- Published
- 2026-06-10
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-06-20
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15