Element

An Element is a type of item, such as a control unit, engine, or specific player-built object that is used to build constructs. Elements are different from voxels in that each has a predefined shape, size, and function. For example, a space ship cannot fly without (among other things) engine elements to provide thrust, a fuel tank element to hold fuel for the engines, and a control unit element from which to steer the ship. Player-made voxel elements can also be used to expedite the creation of constructs.

Types of Elements
There are many types of elements in Dual Universe, and each has its own purpose. In general, elements fall into two basic categories: Voxel and Mesh. Voxel elements are objects that are manually created by players with no mechanical function, but that can be re-used in later constructions. For a better explanation of voxel elements, see the builder's guide. Mesh elements are objects created by Novaquark, and each has it's own designated function, such as an engine or market unit.

Furthermore, elements are either Passive or Active. Passive Elements are decorations or cosmetic features that are placed during construction, but they cannot be interacted with later. For example, static hologram displays or ship decals are both passive elements. Active Elements are elements that cannot function without player interaction, such as market units, which sell items and resources, and industrial units, which produce constructs. While some mesh elements are passive and some are active, voxel elements can only be passive. Players cannot design their own active elements at this time, and such a feature is not planned for some time given the significant development costs involved.

All elements can be crafted by players, or bought and sold through a market unit. Currently, all mesh elements are designed by Novaquark and made available for the players to craft in game. In order to craft an element the player needs to gather the materials and/or resources necessary for its construction. They can then craft the desired element with the in-game crafting system, or an Assembly unit.

There are many mesh elements in game already, and each has its own predefined function and purpose. Some have distinct types and levels, each with unique statistics and functions, and many will require certain skills to operate. While all mesh elements have their functions predetermined by the developers, players can manipulate those functions by connecting different elements to each other, or by writing Lua scripts that modify their behavior.

Key:
Alpha: This element is currently playable and will be in the Alpha

Beta : This element is currently playable in the Beta

Confirmed : An element or feature that will be in the game, but that is not yet playable Rumored: The developers have mentioned the possibility of adding this type of element to the game, but they have not yet committed to doing so
 * Potentially in Alpha: The development of this element is underway, and it is expected to be playable in the Alpha
 * Potentially in Beta: The development of this element is underway, and it is expected to be playable in the Beta
 * Post-Release Expansion: This element will be added to the game at some point, but that is not expected to occur until some time after release

Disclaimer:
Readers should be aware that some confirmed elements and their related content, specifically FLT drives and Stargates, may be intentionally delayed by the developers for gameplay reasons. This delay will likely be years in some cases (most notably Stargates), though no specific timelines are known as this time.