Download the client. Ping a public server. Build a dirty cobblestone tower. Punch a tree. Remember why you fell in love with Minecraft in the first place—all from a single browser tab.
: To keep the game alive, the community began "redistributing" the files. Because the game can run as a standalone HTML file, it is virtually impossible to fully scrub from the internet. The 1.5.2 Paradox
Here are the archetypes of servers you will find:
: Even though 1.8.8 (and newer unofficial ports like 1.12 or 1.21) exist, many players still prefer 1.5.2 servers