ox_lib Complete Guide: The Essential FiveM Utility Library

Shared Modules

Modules that both client and server scripts can import:

• Locale: Internationalization support for multi-language servers
• Logger: Structured logging with configurable levels
• Table utilities: Deep copy, merge, contains, and other table operations
• Math utilities: Rounding, clamping, scaling, and group math functions
• String utilities: Formatting, trimming, and pattern matching helpers

Client Utilities

• Zones: Poly and sphere zone creation for triggering events when players enter/exit areas
• Points: Efficient distance-based point detection (lighter than zones for simple checks)
• Raycast: Camera-based raycasting for targeting entities and surfaces
• Streaming: Request and load models, animations, and particle effects with automatic cleanup
• Vehicle properties: Get/set complete vehicle state (mods, colors, damage, extras)

Server Utilities

• Version checker: Automatic update notifications for resource developers
• Callbacks: Client-server callback system (similar to ESX/QBCore callbacks but cleaner)
• Access control: ACE-based permission checks

Installation

ox_lib is straightforward to install:

1. Download the latest release from the GitHub repository
2. Place it in your resources folder
3. Add ensure ox_lib to your server.cfg before any resource that depends on it
4. Run refresh and ensure ox_lib in the server console

Important: ox_lib must start before any resource that uses it. Place the ensure line near the top of your server.cfg, right after your framework.

How Scripts Use ox_lib

When a script says it requires ox_lib, it means the script uses ox_lib's functions instead of implementing its own. For example:

• A job script might use ox_lib's progress bar for work actions
• A police script might use ox_lib's input dialogs for writing reports
• A drug script might use ox_lib's skill checks for processing
• A inventory system might use ox_lib's context menus for item actions

This is why ox_lib has become standard: it eliminates duplicated effort and gives players a consistent interface.

ox_lib and the OX Ecosystem

| ox_lib is the foundation of a larger ecosystem of resources from the Overextended team: | Resource | |

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