Prism Launcher Technical Glossary
Clear definitions of Minecraft modding and launcher terms: `.mrpack`, Fabric vs NeoForge, JVM heap flags, G1GC/ZGC, and Exit Code 1.
Fabric Loader vs Fabric API
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Fabric Loader is the base runtime installed in the Version tab; Fabric API is the standard library JAR placed in the Mods tab.
- Term
- Fabric Loader vs Fabric API
- In Short
- Fabric Loader is the base runtime installed in the Version tab; Fabric API is the standard library JAR placed in the Mods tab.
- Applies To
- Prism Launcher on Windows 10 & 11
Definition: Fabric Loader vs Fabric API
Fabric Loader is the base runtime installed in the Version tab; Fabric API is the standard library JAR placed in the Mods tab.
Almost every Fabric mod requires `fabric-api.jar` inside the `mods/` folder in addition to enabling Fabric Loader on the instance.
How Prism Launcher handles this on Windows
Every instance in Prism Launcher exposes its version stack, mod list, resource packs, shader packs, and JVM settings in one clean Edit Instance window.
Grab the latest Windows installer or portable ZIP from /download to manage all your Minecraft versions in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What does Fabric Loader vs Fabric API mean in Prism Launcher?
Fabric Loader is the base runtime installed in the Version tab; Fabric API is the standard library JAR placed in the Mods tab. Almost every Fabric mod requires `fabric-api.jar` inside the `mods/` folder in addition to enabling Fabric Loader on the instance.
Where can I configure this inside the launcher?
Right-click any instance on the Prism Launcher dashboard and select **Edit** (or open global **Settings** on the top toolbar).
Get Prism Launcher
Windows, macOS & Linux
Free and open source. Sign in with the Microsoft account that owns Minecraft, then create your first instance.
