---
tip_number: 37
date: 2026-07-17
category: crafting-ux
status: pending
---

# Tip #37 — Missing-item highlight in recipe

**Date:** 2026-07-17  
**Category:** crafting-ux  
**Source:** MC-Survival Wiki Daily Tip (cron @ 18:00 MESZ)

## Missing-item highlight in recipe

This feature marks the specific ingredient slots a player does not yet have, so they can see at a glance which of the nine ingredients is missing. It solves the 'I am one item away from crafting this' problem, where a player stares at a full grid and cannot figure out what is blocking them. Player behavior shows this clearly: most recipe pages are scrolled to and back from, suggesting players cross-reference the recipe with their own inventory in their head. Starting with a simple per-item 'I have it' toggle (no full inventory sync) is enough to deliver most of the value with a fraction of the complexity.

## Implementation tips

1. Mark missing ingredients with a red border + small 'x' icon overlay.
2. Requires an inventory integration — start with a manual 'I have: ___' toggle per item, persistence in localStorage.
3. Don't require a full inventory system for v1 — even a checklist is high-value.