- This article is about the block categories in the Block Palette. For the project categories, see Tags. For help with categories on the Wiki, see Help:Categories.
- This article or section documents the current version of Scratch (version 3.0). For this article in Scratch 2.0, see Block Categories (2.0). For this article in Scratch 1.4, see Block Categories (1.4).
Block categories are the way blocks are sorted in Scratch's block palette. Blocks are categorized based on their functionality, and blocks within the same category share the same color. The separation of color among categories allows better distinction of the parts of a project and increases the ease of access. There are nine main block categories in Scratch 3.0, eleven extensions, and three Raspberry Pi extensions.
There are eleven extension categories:
- Music
- Pen
- Video Sensing
- Text to Speech
- Translate
- Makey Makey
- micro:bit
- LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3
- LEGO BOOST
- LEGO Education WeDo 2.0
- Go Direct Force & Acceleration
There are three Raspberry Pi extensions:
- Raspberry Pi GPIO extension
- Raspberry Pi Sense HAT extension
- Raspberry Pi Simple Electronics extension
Motion Blocks
- Main article: Motion Blocks
Motion blocks deal with the movement of sprites. They relate mainly to the x and y position and direction of the sprite, as almost all the blocks correspond to them. The stage does not contain any Motion blocks since it is a still object. There are currently 18 motion blocks: 15 stack blocks and 3 reporter blocks.
Looks Blocks
- Main article: Looks Blocks
Looks blocks are related to the appearance of sprites and the stage. Some of the functionalities are changing costumes and applying graphic effects. There are currently 20 Looks blocks: 17 stack blocks and 3 reporter blocks. 14 are only for sprites, and 4 are only for the stage.
Sound Blocks
- Main article: Sound Blocks
Sound blocks are related to playing various sounds, whether they be MIDI notes or saved sounds. There are currently sound 9 blocks: 8 stack blocks and 1 reporter block.
Events Blocks
- Main article: Event Blocks
Events blocks are related to various triggers in a project, or when one part signals another to run. The Events blocks used to be part of the Control category prior to Scratch 2.0. The "Events" category consists mostly of hat blocks. There are currently 8 Events blocks: 6 hat blocks and 2 stack blocks.
Control Blocks
- Main article: Control Blocks
Control blocks run the basic flow of a project in the desired fashion, whether it be organized or unexpected. They provide functions for looping various blocks and scripts. They "control" the project and enhance its running. There are currently 11 Control blocks: 1 hat block, 5 C Blocks, 3 stack blocks and 2 cap blocks.
Sensing Blocks
- Main article: Sensing Blocks
Sensing blocks associate with sprites and the stage detecting conditions. For example, sensing blocks can be used to detect when one sprite touches another. They consist of many boolean and reporter blocks and can work with Control blocks to stabilize a project' a flow. There are currently 18 Sensing blocks: 3 stack blocks, 5 boolean blocks and 10 reporter blocks. There are currently 18 sensing blocks: 3 stack blocks, 5 boolean blocks and 10 reporter blocks.
Operators Blocks
- Main article: Operators Blocks
Operators blocks, originally called "Numbers" blocks before Scratch 1.4, deal with many mathematical functions within a project. They are a green color and provide the capabilities of simple to complex mathematical operations. "Operators" also contains blocks for modifying strings and implementing them into various uses. There are some boolean blocks, too, in which some are related to mathematical outputs, while others are used for adjoining other booleans into one or a different output condition. There are currently 18 operators blocks: 7 boolean blocks and 11 reporter blocks.
Variables Blocks
- Main article: Variables Blocks
Variables blocks include two subcategories, Variables and Lists, but both are related to storing and accessing data. This category was called Data in 2.0. Variables blocks are used for storing information, such as a score in a project, and using it in scripting and other beneficial purposes.
Variables Blocks
- Main article: Variables Blocks (subcategory)
Variables are a subcategory of Data blocks. They become visible once a variable, a changeable value, is created. Variables can be local (only available to the sprite it was made in) or global (available to all sprites and the stage). If a variable is made while in the stage, it is automatically a global variable. They are color-coded orange and currently consist of four stack blocks and 1 reporter block.
Cloud Variables
(☁ var)
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This article or section uses Cloud Data. Users who are New Scratchers or are using the Offline Editor cannot make projects using Cloud Data or use it in other users' projects. To use Cloud Data, the Scratcher status is needed and the Online Editor has to be used. |
- Main article: Cloud Data
Another type of variables are called cloud variables. Cloud variables saves data to the Scratch servers. Cloud variables are automatically global variables; this cannot be changed. New Scratchers cannot create cloud variables, nor use them. Cloud variables only supports numbers, not letters or symbols. There is maximum of 10 cloud variables.
List Blocks
- Main article: List Blocks
Lists are another subcategory of Variables blocks. The blocks become visible once a list is created. There are currently 12 list blocks: 7 stack blocks, 4 reporter blocks and 1 boolean block.
My Blocks
- Main article: My Blocks
My blocks, originally called More Blocks in 2.0, are blocks that hold custom procedures for a selected sprite. The blocks are useful for running a script without screen refresh and organization of the scripts. It is also possible to add boolean and number and string inputs to the My Block.
Extensions
- Main article: Extension
There are many extensions in Scratch that provide additional elements to the editor or allow connection to the physical world. The extensions are:
- Music
- Pen
- Video Sensing
- Text to Speech
- Translate
- Makey Makey
- micro:bit
- LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3
- LEGO BOOST
- LEGO Education WeDo 2.0
- Go Direct Force & Acceleration
Raspberry Pi
There are three extensions that are only available with the Raspberry Pi version of Scratch.
- Raspberry Pi GPIO extension
- Raspberry Pi Sense HAT extension
- Raspberry Pi Simple Electronics extension
See Also
