§ codes and & codes
The game itself only understands §. Plugins like EssentialsX, and the chat of many servers, let you type & instead and swap it for you. In server.properties, signs and books you need the real §, or \u00A7 in a properties file.
A colour code resets any styles before it. To get bold gold text, put the colour first: &6&lGold and bold. Putting &l before &6 loses the bold.
Where each kind of code works
| Where | What to use |
|---|---|
| Server MOTD | § codes, or \u00A7 in server.properties. See the MOTD generator. |
| Chat and signs (vanilla) | Not typeable. Use /tellraw or a plugin. |
| Chat with a plugin | Usually & codes, often limited by permission. |
| /tellraw, /title, books | JSON text with colour names like "gold". See the tellraw generator. |
| Item names in an anvil | Not supported in vanilla. |
Hex colours
Since 1.16, JSON text also accepts any hex colour, like "color": "#FF7A00". That works in /tellraw, /title and plugin messages that take JSON, but not in the MOTD line of server.properties or with § codes.