itemStack

An itemStack is a fundamental data structure commonly found in video games, particularly those with inventory systems. It represents a collection of identical items that are stored together. Instead of having individual entries for each sword in a player's inventory, for example, an itemStack might represent "5 Iron Swords" as a single entry.

The core components of an itemStack are typically the item type itself and a quantity. The item type defines what the item is, such as "potion," "wood," or "sword." The quantity indicates how many of that specific item type are present within the stack. This aggregation is crucial for efficient inventory management, preventing clutter and simplifying operations like stacking, unstacking, and consuming items.

When an itemStack reaches a predefined maximum capacity, a new itemStack of the same item type is created to hold the overflow. This maximum capacity is often specific to the item type. For instance, a stack of "health potions" might have a maximum of 10, while a stack of "iron ore" could have a maximum of 64. The concept of itemStacks allows for streamlined handling of game mechanics related to item collection, trading, and usage.