# Understanding the Identify Control in Bedrock Edition Canonical: https://guides.gaialegends.pro/posts/identify-control-bedrock-edition Published: 2026-10-01 Updated: 2026-10-01 Version scope: Bedrock Edition Preview 26.10.25 > The Identify control (formerly Describe) is a Bedrock Edition control that shows item and block information. It was renamed in Preview 26.10.25 to better communicate its function. Bedrock Edition displays item names with a black background and includes enchantment details and shulker box contents, unlike Java Edition's italic text without extra info. The Identify control (formerly Describe) is a Bedrock Edition control that shows item and block information. It was renamed in Preview 26.10.25 to better communicate its function. Bedrock Edition displays item names with a black background and includes enchantment details and shulker box contents, unlike Java Edition's italic text without extra info. ## Key Takeaways | Point | Details | | --- | --- | | The Identify control was | The Identify control was renamed from Describe in Bedrock Preview 26.10.25. | | Bedrock Edition shows item | Bedrock Edition shows item names with a black background and includes enchantments and shulker box contents. | | Java Edition item names | Java Edition item names appear in italics without additional information. | | The Identify control is | The Identify control is part of the Bedrock HUD and can be bound to a key or button. | | Players can use the | Players can use the Identify control to quickly check blocks, items, and their properties. | ## What Is the Identify Control in Bedrock Edition? The Identify control is a dedicated input that reveals the name and details of the block or item you're looking at. If you've played Bedrock for a while, you probably knew it as the **Describe** control. In Bedrock Edition Preview 26.10.25, released on February 24, 2026, Mojang officially renamed it to `Identify` to better match its function. > Controls Updated the name for the Describe control to Identify. ## Changes in Bedrock Preview 26.10.25 ![Understanding the Identify Control in Bedrock Edition supporting Minecraft scene 1](/images/posts/identify-control-bedrock-edition-inline-1.webp) The rename is the headline change, but the control itself still works the same way. On touch devices you'll find a button on the HUD; on keyboard or controller you can bind it to any key or button. When activated, it shows the exact name of the targeted block or item, which is especially useful for distinguishing similar blocks like `diorite` vs. `calcite` or checking the enchantments on a friend's gear. ## How Bedrock Displays Item Names One major difference between Bedrock and Java Edition is how item names appear on the screen. In Bedrock, when you scroll through your hotbar (or use the Identify control), the item name appears with a solid black background and includes extra info such as enchantments and the contents of a shulker box. Java Edition, by contrast, shows the name in italics without any black box or additional data. > In Java Edition, this name appears in italics, while in Bedrock Edition, the text has a black background and also shows enchantments of the selected item, and contents of a shulker box. This means the Identify control in Bedrock is more than a label—it gives you a quick peek at what's inside a container or how powerful a weapon really is. ## Using the Identify Control on Custom Item Servers If you play on servers with custom items, the Identify control becomes even more valuable. You can instantly see the bonus stats, set bonuses, or level requirements on any piece of gear. This pairs nicely with server mechanics where you need to [check custom item leveling](/posts/level-up-custom-items-using-minecraft) or [reroll stats](/posts/how-to-reroll-custom-item-stats-on-minecraft-servers-2026) to optimize your loadout. Knowing what you're holding at a glance saves time and helps you make smarter upgrade decisions. ## Comparing Bedrock and Java Edition HUD The HUD itself is a system that overlays your health, hunger, hotbar, and other key information on the screen. Bedrock's mobile layout even moves the health and armor bars to the top left and hunger to the top right. But the Identify control is one small piece of that larger interface—one that Bedrock players get and Java players don't. > The HUD typically consists of the user's health, hunger, and experience bars, the hotbar, as well as a crosshair that designates the currently focused on block or entity if the player is not playing on a mobile device and has not enabled split controls. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why was the Describe control renamed to Identify? The rename was part of Bedrock Edition Preview 26.10.25, released on February 24, 2026. The new name 'Identify' more clearly describes the control's function: to identify the targeted block or item and show its details. ## Sources - Controls Updated the name for the Describe control to Identify. — [Bedrock Edition Preview 26.10.25](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Bedrock_Edition_Preview_26.10.25) - In Java Edition, this name appears in italics, while in Bedrock Edition, the text has a black background and also shows enchantments of the selected item, and contents of a shulker box. — [Heads-up display](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Heads-up_display) - The HUD typically consists of the user's health, hunger, and experience bars, the hotbar, as well as a crosshair that designates the currently focused on block or entity if the player is not playing on a mobile device and has not enabled split controls. — [Heads-up display](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Heads-up_display)