Glossary
A short index and dictionary of terminology and words that may sound unfamiliar.
List:
B
Bukkit: CraftBukkit. Software to extend a vanilla Minecraft server.
C
CPU: Central Processing Unit. The computational core of a system.
Active Chunk: Simulation Distance.
Passive Chunk: View Distance.
Chunk: An area of 16*16 blocks x*z.
Client-side: Runs from the client side.
Client: The Minecraft application/graphical window. The Minecraft game run by the player.
Core: A processing unit of a CPU. A core executes various instructions.
Cracked Plugin: Pirated plugin. A premium plugin obtained through illegal means. Such as sharing, cracking, nulling.
Cracked Server: A Minecraft server that has online-mode: false in server.properties.
CraftBukkit: Bukkit. Software to extend a vanilla Minecraft server.
D
Disk Storage: Permanent data storage. It is non-volatile.
Dupe: Duplicate. A general term referring to exploiting something that allows you to get the same thing for free.
E
Event-driven: Works when there is a trigger.
F
Fake Chunk: A non-ticking chunk similar to view distance chunks, but more optimized and sent only via packets, without any ticking or loading except caching from the server side.
Flag: A general term referring to startup parameters and startup arguments.
G
Garbage Collection: The memory management process of 'throwing away' temporary data that is no longer in use. It aims to reclaim free space in RAM.
H
Heap Memory: The actual RAM used by the Minecraft server.
J
JVM: Java Virtual Machine. A tool that allows a computer to run Java programs.
Java: Programming language. Used for Minecraft Java Edition.
M
Memory: A general term referring to RAM.
Mojang Studios: The company that develops Minecraft. Mojang Studio, the developer of Minecraft Java Edition, is located in Sweden.
Multi Thread: Running several instructions, tasks, jobs in parallel.
N
Non-ticking: No tick task is running.
O
Offline-mode server: A Minecraft server that has online-mode: false in server.properties.
Online-mode server: Premium Server. A Minecraft server that has online-mode: true in server.properties.
Optimization: Strategies and steps taken to do something with maximum efficiency and minimal resource usage.
P
Paid Plugin: Premium plugin. A plugin you need to buy before you can use it. Generally closed-source, though some developers open their source.
Paper: Minecraft server implementation.
Pirated Plugin: A premium plugin obtained through illegal means. Such as sharing, cracking, nulling.
Premium Plugin: A plugin you need to buy before you can use it. Generally closed-source, though some developers open their source.
Plugin: Additional server-side features for a Minecraft server.
Process Memory: The RAM allocated by Java to run the Minecraft server system.
Purpur: Minecraft server implementation. Based on Paper.
R
RAM: Random Access Memory. A place for temporary data storage, it is volatile.
Realms: Minecraft servers provided by Mojang Studios.
Resource: Server resource. CPU, RAM, Disk storage, Network bandwidth.
S
Cracked Server: A Minecraft server that has online-mode: false in server.properties.
Minecraft Server: A place to play multiplayer Minecraft.
Premium Server: A Minecraft server that has online-mode: true in server.properties.
Server Resource: CPU, RAM, Disk storage, Network bandwidth.
Server-side: Only needed and only run from the server side. Not needed on the client.
Simulation Distance: The distance of ticking chunks. Active chunks.
Single Thread: Running one instruction, task, job sequentially.
Spigot: Minecraft server implementation.
Startup Argument: Additional options to specify startup parameters. Example: -jar server.jar. Server.jar is a startup argument.
Startup Flag: A general term referring to startup parameters and startup arguments.
Startup Parameter: Options that can be used when running the JVM. Example: -Xms -Xmx -XX -jar --nogui.
Subchunk: An area of 16*16*16 blocks x*y*z
T
Task: 'A job or program that is run.'
Thread: A processing unit smaller than a CPU. Its job is to divide the work of instructions into smaller parts to be run in parallel.
Tick: The unit marking the update cycle of all tasks in Minecraft.
Ticking: The tick task is running.
V
Vanilla: Minecraft without any modifications. The original provided by Mojang Studios.
View Distance: The chunk viewing distance given to the player, it is non-ticking. Passive Chunk.
Last Edited: 13 December 2025.
Author: Jan Wafa Karsiena. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.
