Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Minecraft /data Command: Read and Change NBT
/data (Java only) reads and edits the NBT data of entities, block entities such as chests and signs, and command storage. /data get entity @s shows your own data, /data merge block x y z {...} adds tags to a block, /data modify copies or sets values, and /data remove deletes a tag. Players' own data can be read but not changed with it.
What are the four /data instructions?
| Instruction | What it does |
|---|---|
/data get <target> [path] [scale] | Shows data, or one value |
/data merge <target> <nbt> | Adds or overwrites tags |
/data modify <target> <path> (set|append|prepend|insert|merge) ... | Edits one value from a value or another source |
/data remove <target> <path> | Deletes a tag |
The target is block <x y z>, entity <selector> or storage <id>.
What are some /data examples?
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
/data get entity @s Health | Your health |
/data get entity @s SelectedItem | The item in your hand |
/data merge entity @e[type=zombie,limit=1,sort=nearest] {NoAI:1b} | Freezes the nearest zombie |
/data merge entity @e[type=item,limit=1,sort=nearest] {PickupDelay:32767} | An item nobody can pick up |
Selectors: target selectors.
What can't /data do?
- It cannot change player data (use /give, /effect, /attribute and similar instead).
- Some tags are recalculated by the game and change right back.
- It is Java only; Bedrock has no NBT command.
- Items now use data components rather than NBT tags on Java; see /give.
Who uses /data?
Map makers and data pack authors: storing values in command storage, reading a chest's contents, or moving data between entities with /execute store and functions.
Which commands can players use on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
Can /data change a player's data?
No, player data can be read but not modified with /data.
How do you freeze a mob with a command?
Java: /data merge entity
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.