A quick reference for working with Claude Code and prompt engineering. Verified on Claude Code 2.1.289.
💡 Your system is detected automatically — Mac- and Windows-specific commands are filtered to it. Switch above if you need the other.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+C |
Interrupt the current generation |
Ctrl+D |
Exit Claude Code (EOF) |
Ctrl+L |
Clear the screen (history kept) |
Ctrl+O |
Open the multi-line editor |
Ctrl+R |
Search prompt history |
Ctrl+G |
Fuzzy-find files in the project (like fzf) |
Ctrl+B |
Pick from changed git files |
Ctrl+F |
Search the current conversation |
Shift+Tab |
Toggle mode: Plan → Normal → Auto-accept |
\+Enter / Ctrl+J |
New line without sending |
Esc+Esc |
Cancel current input |
/ at line start |
Open slash-command autocomplete |
! at line start |
Run a bash command from the prompt |
@filename |
Add a file/folder to context |
claude # Interactive mode
claude "request" # Launch with an initial request
claude -p 'request' # Pipe mode: response to stdout and exit
claude -c # Resume the last session
claude -r <id> # Resume session by ID
claude update # Update Claude Code
# Useful flags
--model <model> # Specify model at launch
--permission-mode plan # Launch in read-only mode
--worktree / -w # Isolated git worktree
--autocompact <auto|tokens> # Auto-compaction mode; -n = --name
--add-dir <path> # Add a folder to context
--output-format json|text|stream-json
--max-budget-usd <N> # Session budget in dollars
--bare # Minimal mode: no hooks, LSP, plugin sync, or auto-memory
# Pipe mode — handy for scripts:
cat error.log | claude -p 'explain the error'
/clear # Full context wipe
/compact [topic] # Compress context, keep the essentials
/context # Show context fill
/resume # List recent sessions to resume
/rename <name> # Rename the session (handy for /resume)
/branch # Create a session branch
/cost # Current session cost ($, tokens)
/diff # All file changes this session
/copy # Copy the last response
/export # Export the conversation to Markdown
Decision tree /clear vs /compact:
| Situation | Command |
|---|---|
| Context is full (>80%) or the task changed | /compact |
| Context <70% and the task is the same | Continue |
💡
CLAUDE.md(and the@AGENTS.mdit imports) is auto-reloaded after /compact and auto-compact — instructions aren't lost.
/config # Open settings.json in the editor
/model <model> # Switch model in the session
/fast # Fast mode: same model, faster output
/effort low|medium|high # Analysis depth
/permissions # View and configure permissions
/vim # Enable vim editing mode
/theme # Change color theme