WorldGuard

WorldGuard is a protection and access-control plugin for Minecraft servers, designed to help server operators manage and safeguard regions within a world. It is commonly used in conjunction with WorldEdit and runs on server platforms such as Bukkit, Spigot, and Paper. WorldGuard provides a rule-based system that lets administrators define protected areas and enforce specific behaviors within them.

The core functionality centers on regions. Administrators can define regions by selecting points in the world and assigning a name. Each region can have owners and members, who are granted elevated permissions within that area. Regions can overlap, and WorldGuard uses a priority and flag system to determine which rules apply in overlapping spaces. Flags control a wide range of behaviors, including movement, building and destruction, mob spawning, PVP, container access, fire spread, explosions, and redstone activity. Default flags can be overridden, and temporary or per-player rules can be implemented through permissions and region-specific settings.

Common usage involves a set of commands to create and manage regions. Typical actions include defining a region, listing its properties, setting or changing flags, and adding or removing owners and members. Administrators may also apply global or per-world protections, monitor region activity, and export or back up region data.

WorldGuard is widely used to prevent griefing, protect builds, manage event areas, and enforce server-specific rules. It is maintained as open-source software with community contributions and integrates deeply with WorldEdit to streamline region selection and management. While alternatives exist, WorldGuard remains a foundational tool for region protection on many Minecraft servers.