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Claude Code Features Guide

Reference guide to Claude Code features. Browse by category — code editing, Git, testing, MCP, customization — with search and filtering.

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How to Use

Expand how to use
  1. 1

    Search for a Feature

    Type a keyword in the search box or filter by category (Code Editing, Git, etc.) to find the feature you need.

  2. 2

    View Feature Details

    Check the description, usage examples, and related commands for each feature.

  3. 3

    Try It Out

    Use the examples as a reference and try the feature in Claude Code.

Recent Updates

Check the latest Claude Code features

v2.1.113-v2.1.114 (2026-04)

CLI switched to native Claude Code binary, Bash sandbox/security hardening, `/loop` improvements, fullscreen and multiline input keybinding refinements.

v2.1.108-v2.1.112 (2026-04)

Claude Opus 4.7 with xhigh effort, session recap, fullscreen rendering, push notifications, new /ultrareview and /less-permission-prompts skills.

View full update history

62 features

File Read & Write

Read, create, edit, and overwrite files in your project. Supports reading multiple files simultaneously.

Code Editing

Usage Examples

Read src/app/page.tsx
Create a new utility function in utils/helpers.ts

Multi-File Editing

Edit multiple files across your project in a single instruction. Ideal for interface changes that require updates in related files.

Code Editing

Usage Examples

Add an email field to the User interface and update all related files
Unify all import paths to use @/ across all components

Code Generation

Generate code from natural language instructions. Supports functions, components, API endpoints, configuration files, and more.

Code Editing

Usage Examples

Create an API endpoint for sending emails
Implement an authentication middleware

Refactoring

Improve code structure, rename symbols, and apply design patterns while preserving behavior.

Code Editing

Usage Examples

Extract this logic into a custom hook
Convert this class component to a function component

Bug Fixing

Analyze error messages and stack traces to identify root causes and implement fixes.

Code Editing

Usage Examples

Fix this error: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined
Debug why login returns a 500 error and fix it

Code Review

Review code changes for bugs, security risks, performance issues, and best practice violations.

Code Editing

Usage Examples

Review the latest changes
Review this PR from a security perspective

Related Commands

Auto Lint Fix

Automatically detect and fix ESLint, Prettier, and other linting errors. Instantly fixes violations after code edits.

Code Editing

Usage Examples

Fix all lint errors
Apply Prettier formatting

Commit Creation

Analyze changes and auto-generate appropriate commit messages. Supports Conventional Commits format.

Git Operations

Usage Examples

Commit the changes
Commit with message: feat: add user authentication

Related Commands

Pull Request Creation

Automatically create PRs with change summaries and test plans using GitHub CLI.

Git Operations

Usage Examples

Create a PR
Create a PR targeting the develop branch

Related Commands

PR Review

Read and review existing PR changes, providing review comments.

Git Operations

Usage Examples

Review PR #123
Check this PR and flag any issues

Related Commands

Branch Management

Create, switch, merge, and delete branches.

Git Operations

Usage Examples

Create and switch to feature/auth-refactor branch
Merge latest from develop branch

Diff Analysis

Analyze git diff results and explain change summaries and impact scope.

Git Operations

Usage Examples

Show diff against main branch
Summarize changes since last commit

Related Commands

Conflict Resolution

Detect merge conflicts and resolve them by understanding the intent of both changes.

Git Operations

Usage Examples

Resolve merge conflicts
Fix conflicts during rebase

History Investigation

Investigate code change history using commit logs and git blame.

Git Operations

Usage Examples

Show the change history of this file
Find when this function was added

Related Commands

Command Execution

Execute shell commands and analyze results. Supports builds, tests, deployments, and any CLI operation.

Terminal

Usage Examples

Run npm run build
Check Docker container status

Related Commands

Environment Setup

Set up development environments, install dependencies, and generate configuration files.

Terminal

Usage Examples

Set up the development environment for this project
Create a .env file template

Related Commands

Package Management

Install, update, and audit packages with npm/yarn/pnpm.

Terminal

Usage Examples

Install zod
Run npm audit and fix vulnerabilities

Build & Run

Build projects, start development servers, and verify production builds.

Terminal

Usage Examples

Start the development server
Verify the production build passes

Process Management

Start/stop background processes and check port usage.

Terminal

Usage Examples

Check what's using port 3000
Start the dev server in the background

Prompt Suggestions

Auto-suggest next prompts based on git history and conversation context. Press Tab to accept or Enter to accept and submit. Cost-efficient background generation.

Terminal

Usage Examples

Press Tab to accept a suggestion
Press Enter to accept and submit immediately

/btw (Side Questions)

Ask quick questions about your current work without adding to conversation history. Available even while Claude is processing a response.

Terminal

Usage Examples

/btw what was the name of that config file again?
/btw what's the type of this function's argument?

Related Commands

Session Recap

One-line summary of what happened in the session, shown automatically after you step away and return. Also available on demand via /recap. Reuses the parent conversation's prompt cache for minimal cost.

Terminal

Usage Examples

/recap to generate a summary of the current session
Automatic recap appears after the terminal is unfocused for 3+ minutes

Related Commands

Codebase Search

Search by file name patterns, code content, and advanced regex patterns.

Project Understanding

Usage Examples

Find all files related to authentication
List all components that use useEffect

Related Commands

Dependency Analysis

Analyze import relationships between files, package dependency trees, and detect circular dependencies.

Project Understanding

Usage Examples

Visualize this module's dependencies
Check for circular dependencies

Code Explanation

Explain complex code behavior, algorithms, and design intent in clear terms.

Project Understanding

Usage Examples

Explain what this regex does
Explain how this custom hook works

Architecture Analysis

Analyze overall project structure, layer composition, and design patterns.

Project Understanding

Usage Examples

Explain this project's architecture
Suggest improvements to the directory structure

Impact Analysis

Identify the scope of code changes and list related files that need modification.

Project Understanding

Usage Examples

Check what's affected if I change this API type definition
Verify if it's safe to delete this function

Image Input (Multimodal)

Accept screenshots, design mocks, and error screens as input. Convert images to code or identify issues. Paste from clipboard with Ctrl+V.

Project Understanding

Usage Examples

Convert this design mock image to a React component
Ctrl+V to paste an error screenshot and identify the cause

Test Generation

Auto-generate test code for functions and components. Covers happy paths, error cases, and edge cases.

Testing

Usage Examples

Write unit tests for the calculateTotal function
Create tests for the LoginForm component

Test Execution & Debugging

Run tests and analyze/fix failing test causes.

Testing

Usage Examples

Run all tests
Debug and fix the failing tests

Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Follow the RED-GREEN-REFACTOR TDD cycle — write tests first, then implement.

Testing

Usage Examples

Implement user validation using TDD
Write the tests first, then implement

Test Maintenance

Update existing tests for implementation changes and improve test coverage.

Testing

Usage Examples

Update tests to match the API spec changes
Add tests where coverage is below 80%

MCP (Model Context Protocol) Integration

Connect to external tools and services through MCP servers. Access Slack, databases, APIs, and more.

MCP Integration

Usage Examples

Check MCP server configuration
Send a message to Slack via MCP

Related Commands

Browser Automation

Automate browser actions through Playwright MCP for web page verification and E2E testing.

MCP Integration

Usage Examples

Open localhost:3000 and take a screenshot
Run a form input test

Related Commands

External API Access

Access external web pages and APIs through Fetch MCP or custom MCP servers.

MCP Integration

Usage Examples

Fetch repository info from GitHub API
Read and summarize this URL's documentation

Database Access

Execute queries, check schemas, and manipulate data through MCP database servers.

MCP Integration

Usage Examples

Check the database schema
Get the latest 10 records from the users table

CLAUDE.md (Project Settings)

Configure project-specific instructions, coding conventions, and commands for Claude Code via the CLAUDE.md file.

Customization

Usage Examples

Create a CLAUDE.md for this project
Add coding conventions to CLAUDE.md

Related Commands

Skills (Custom Workflows)

Add custom workflows to Claude Code with SKILL.md files. Invoke with /skill-name or let Claude apply them automatically. Bundled skills like /batch and /simplify are available out of the box.

Customization

Usage Examples

/simplify to review and fix recent changes
/batch migrate src/ from Solid to React

Related Commands

Hooks (Event Handlers)

Attach shell commands, HTTP endpoints, LLM prompts, or agents to 20+ lifecycle events (PreToolUse, Stop, Notification, etc.). Automate pre-commit checks, notifications, and more.

Customization

Usage Examples

Set up a PostToolUse hook to auto-run lint after file edits
Add a Notification hook to send desktop alerts when Claude is idle

Related Commands

Permission Modes

Control tool execution permission levels. Adjust autonomy with plan, autoEdit, fullAuto, and more.

Customization

Usage Examples

Switch to plan mode to design the implementation
Switch to auto-execution mode

Related Commands

Model Selection

Switch between AI models (Opus/Sonnet/Haiku) based on the task. Useful for cost optimization.

Customization

Usage Examples

Switch to the Sonnet model
Haiku is sufficient for this task

Related Commands

Memory

Two complementary systems: CLAUDE.md files for manual instructions and Auto Memory for automatic learning across sessions. Claude remembers your corrections and preferences without manual effort.

Customization

Usage Examples

Remember to write commit messages in English
Remember that this project uses bun

Related Commands

Plugin System

Package skills, agents, hooks, and MCP servers as plugins to share with teams and the community. Install from marketplaces or local directories.

Customization

Usage Examples

claude plugin install code-review@claude-plugins-official
/reload-plugins to reload plugins

Related Commands

Keybinding Customization

Customize keyboard shortcuts via ~/.claude/keybindings.json. Rebind keys, add chord shortcuts, and configure vim mode bindings.

Customization

Usage Examples

Rebind Ctrl+S to submit
Check vim mode keybindings

Related Commands

Sub-Agents

Delegate tasks to specialized AI sub-agents. Built-in agents include Explore (search-optimized), Plan (read-only research), and general-purpose. Create custom sub-agents with .claude/agents/ files.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Use an Explore agent to search the codebase
Create a custom agent in .claude/agents/

Related Commands

Parallel Agents

Run multiple sub-agents in parallel to handle independent tasks simultaneously. Ideal for concurrent research and implementation.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Run security review and code review in parallel
Create three translation files simultaneously

Agent Teams

Coordinate multiple Claude Code instances working as a team. A lead assigns tasks and teammates work independently with direct messaging between members.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Create an agent team to review PR #142 from security, performance, and test perspectives
Spawn 4 teammates to refactor modules in parallel

Context Management

Manage conversation history compression, efficient context window usage, and topic switching.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Compact the context
Clear to start a new topic

Related Commands

Checkpointing & Rewind

Automatically track file edits and rewind code and conversation to any previous point. Press Esc twice or use /rewind to access the checkpoint menu.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Press Esc Esc to open the rewind menu
/rewind to restore a previous state

Related Commands

IDE Integration

Use Claude Code within VS Code, JetBrains, and other IDEs via extensions and plugins.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Use as a VS Code extension
Use with a JetBrains plugin

Headless Mode

Execute tasks directly from the CLI without interaction. Ideal for CI/CD pipelines and script automation.

Advanced

Usage Examples

claude -p 'Write tests for this file' --output-file test.ts
echo 'Review this' | claude -p --json

Related Commands

SDK / API Integration

Call Claude Code features programmatically using the Claude Code SDK. Build custom tools and workflows.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Create a script that calls Claude Code via the TypeScript SDK
Build a custom agent

GitHub Actions Integration

Automate PR reviews and code generation using Claude Code in GitHub Actions.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Set up a workflow for auto-reviewing PRs
Create an Action that auto-generates PRs from issues

Claude Code on the Web

Run Claude Code from claude.ai/code in your browser. No local setup required — clone GitHub repos, make changes, and create PRs. Supports parallel task execution and diff review.

Advanced

Usage Examples

claude --remote 'Fix the login bug'
Teleport a web session to your terminal: claude --teleport

Related Commands

Remote Control

Control a local Claude Code session from a web browser or smartphone. Your filesystem and MCP servers stay local while you work from anywhere.

Advanced

Usage Examples

claude remote-control --name 'My Project'
/remote-control to make the session available remotely

Related Commands

Channels (Messaging Integration)

Push events from Telegram, Discord, iMessage, and custom webhooks into a running Claude Code session. Two-way communication for chat bridge workflows.

Advanced

Usage Examples

claude --channels plugin:telegram@claude-plugins-official
Send messages from Discord to Claude Code

Related Commands

Git Worktree Isolation

Give each session its own isolated copy of the repository using Git worktrees. Prevents file conflicts during parallel work. Sub-agents can also use worktree isolation.

Advanced

Usage Examples

claude --worktree feature-auth
Run agents in isolated worktrees for parallel work

Related Commands

Scheduled Tasks

Run Claude Code tasks on a recurring schedule. Four options: cloud (claude.ai), desktop app, GitHub Actions, and /loop command for in-session polling.

Advanced

Usage Examples

/loop 5m check if the deploy finished
Schedule a daily open PR review

Related Commands

Voice Dictation (Push-to-Talk)

Hold Space to dictate prompts with real-time transcription. Mix voice and typing freely. Supports 20 languages with coding-optimized recognition.

Advanced

Usage Examples

/voice to enable voice dictation
Hold Space to record, release to finalize

Related Commands

Fast Mode

Make Opus 4.6 2.5x faster with the same model quality. Higher cost per token but significantly lower latency. Ideal for interactive iteration and live debugging.

Advanced

Usage Examples

/fast to toggle Fast Mode
Enable fast mode for a debugging session

Related Commands

Fullscreen Rendering

Flicker-free alt-screen renderer for long sessions. Toggle with /tui fullscreen. Enables Ctrl+[ scrollback dump and v editor open in the transcript viewer. Works with /focus for a minimal view.

Advanced

Usage Examples

/tui fullscreen to relaunch into the alt-screen renderer
/focus to show only the last prompt and final response

Related Commands

Push Notifications

Claude can send mobile push notifications to your phone when Remote Control is enabled and 'Push when Claude decides' is configured. Stay informed about long-running work without watching the terminal.

Advanced

Usage Examples

Enable in /config → Push Notifications, then run with Remote Control
Claude notifies you when a long build finishes or when awaiting input

Related Commands

Update History

A timeline of feature additions and changes by Claude Code version.

v2.1.113-v2.1.114 (2026-04)

CLI switched to native Claude Code binary, Bash sandbox/security hardening, `/loop` improvements, fullscreen and multiline input keybinding refinements.

  • CLI now spawns a platform-specific native Claude Code binary instead of bundled JavaScript
  • Added sandbox.network.deniedDomains setting to override allowedDomains wildcards and block specific domains
  • Hardened Bash(rm:*) / Bash(find:*) allow rules; deny rules now match commands wrapped in env / sudo / watch and similar exec wrappers
  • Fullscreen mode: Shift+↑/↓ now scrolls the viewport when extending a selection past the visible edge
  • Multiline input: Ctrl+A / Ctrl+E now move to the start/end of the current logical line (readline); Windows Ctrl+Backspace deletes the previous word
  • Improved /loop: Esc cancels pending wakeups; /ultrareview now launches faster with parallelized checks and a diffstat in the launch dialog
  • /extra-usage and @-file autocomplete are now available from Remote Control (mobile/web) clients
  • Fixed a crash in the permission dialog when an agent teams teammate requested tool permission (v2.1.114)
v2.1.108-v2.1.112 (2026-04)

Claude Opus 4.7 with xhigh effort, session recap, fullscreen rendering, push notifications, new /ultrareview and /less-permission-prompts skills.

  • Claude Opus 4.7 available with new xhigh effort level (between high and max)
  • Auto mode expanded to Max subscribers on Opus 4.7; --enable-auto-mode flag removed (use --permission-mode auto)
  • Session recap: one-line summary after returning from idle, plus on-demand /recap
  • Fullscreen rendering via /tui fullscreen — flicker-free alt-screen renderer with scrollback dump and editor integration
  • /focus toggles a minimal view showing only the last prompt and final response
  • Push notification tool — Claude can send mobile push alerts when Remote Control is enabled
  • New /ultrareview skill runs deep multi-agent cloud code review
  • New /less-permission-prompts skill proposes a prioritized Bash/MCP allowlist
v2.1.x (2026-03)

Remote Control, Channels, Agent Teams, Voice Dictation, Fast Mode, Plugins, Skills

  • Remote Control: drive local sessions from browser or mobile
  • Channels (Telegram/Discord/iMessage) push events into running sessions
  • Agent Teams: coordinate multiple Claude Code instances working together
  • Voice dictation (Push-to-Talk) with 20-language support
  • Fast Mode: 2.5x speed boost for Opus 4.6
  • Plugin system to package and share skills, agents, hooks, and MCP servers
  • Skills (SKILL.md) for custom workflows, plus bundled /batch and /simplify
  • Git worktree isolation for parallel sessions without file conflicts
  • Scheduled tasks (cloud, desktop, GitHub Actions, /loop)
  • /btw side questions and prompt suggestions
  • Checkpointing & rewind to restore code/conversation to any point
  • Keybinding customization (~/.claude/keybindings.json)
v2.0.x (2026-02)

Opus 4.6 support, Claude Code on the Web, MCP server enhancements

  • Claude Opus 4.6 model support
  • Claude Code on the Web (claude.ai/code) for browser-based execution
  • Improved MCP server stability and new tools
  • /diff command for git diff visualization
  • /memory command for memory management
  • Auto Memory for automatic cross-session learning
v1.0.x (2025-06)

Initial release with core features

  • File read/write, code generation, refactoring
  • Git operations (commit, PR creation, review)
  • Terminal command execution
  • CLAUDE.md for project configuration
  • Custom slash commands
  • MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration

About Claude Code Features Guide

The Claude Code Features Guide is a comprehensive reference that systematically organizes all features of Claude Code, Anthropic's AI-powered coding assistant for the terminal. Unlike command references that list syntax, this guide focuses on what you can actually accomplish — from code editing and Git operations to MCP server integration, sub-agent delegation, and team coordination. Features are organized into clear categories including Code Editing, Git & Version Control, Testing & Debugging, MCP Integration, Customization (CLAUDE.md, skills, hooks), Agents & Teams, and Advanced capabilities like headless mode and SDK integration. Search by keyword or filter by category to quickly find the feature you need.

Key Features

  • Comprehensive list of all features organized into 8 categories
  • Usage examples and related commands for each feature
  • Category filters and keyword search
  • Version-based update history to quickly find new features

Use Cases

  • Exploring what Claude Code can do before adopting it on a production codebase at work
  • Finding the right feature (code generation, test writing, refactoring, bug fixing) for a specific task without trial-and-error
  • Onboarding a new engineer to Claude Code by sharing a concise overview of agent mode, MCP integrations, and CLAUDE.md conventions
  • Checking which features support headless/CI use cases before wiring Claude Code into a GitHub Actions or GitLab CI pipeline
  • Comparing Claude Code's built-in capabilities against Cursor or Copilot when evaluating AI coding tools for your team

FAQ

What's the difference between the Features Guide and the Commands Reference?

The Commands Reference lists every CLI flag, slash command, and keyboard shortcut. The Features Guide is organized by capability — bug fixing, test generation, refactoring, MCP integrations — so you can find what Claude Code can do for a specific workflow without scanning command syntax.

How much does Claude Code cost?

Claude Code requires an Anthropic API key and charges based on token usage (input + output). There is also a Claude Pro/Team subscription that includes Claude Code access. This reference guide is free to use regardless.

What is MCP and why does it matter?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets Claude Code connect to external tools — GitHub, Jira, databases, Slack, browsers, and more. Instead of switching tabs, you can query a database or file a GitHub issue directly from your terminal session.

What is CLAUDE.md and should I commit it?

CLAUDE.md is a project-level config file that tells Claude Code your coding conventions, build commands, and team standards. Yes, commit it — every developer on the team will then get consistent Claude Code behavior without manual setup.

Can Claude Code read and edit files autonomously?

Yes. In agent mode, Claude Code can read multiple files, make edits, run tests, and iterate — all in one go. You can control how much autonomy it has via permission settings and the --dangerously-skip-permissions flag for fully automated pipelines.

How does Claude Code compare to GitHub Copilot or Cursor?

Claude Code is a terminal-based agent that can run shell commands and operate across your entire codebase, not just the current file. Copilot and Cursor focus on in-editor completions. Claude Code is better suited for multi-step tasks like refactoring, debugging, or writing tests across many files.

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