Commands Reference
The command families that shape the Claude Code user experience
A practical index of the command groups exposed by Claude Code and what each one is for.
Core command families
Claude Code exposes command groups for planning, MCP, resume/session management, permissions, configuration, review, context inspection, and more.
The command surface reflects product priorities: conversation control, tool control, environment control, and long-running task control.
- Planning commands help align before mutating code.
- Resume/session commands support long-running work.
- MCP commands manage external capabilities.
- Permissions commands make safety decisions inspectable and retryable.
There are also CLI-level fast paths
The CLI entrypoint supports specialized fast paths for version checks, bridge/remote control, background sessions, daemon-style workers, MCP server modes, and other advanced flows.
This means the product is broader than the interactive chat shell alone.
Use commands as workflow markers, not just shortcuts
The important takeaway is not memorizing every slash command. It is understanding that commands reveal the major system boundaries: planning, session control, integrations, permissions, and execution modes.
Learn next
These guides are adjacent to the current topic and make the learning path easier to follow.
Glossary
A compact map of the terms that show up across the Claude Code hub
Quick definitions for the concepts that matter most across planning, sessions, memory, tools, MCP, and delegated work.
Agents and Plan Mode
How Claude Code separates planning, coordination, and delegated execution
Understand the difference between the main thread, plan mode, coordinator behavior, and constrained sub-agents.
Claude Code vs Cursor
A systems-level comparison of two different AI coding product shapes
Compare Claude Code and Cursor through workflow boundaries, tool models, session behavior, and integration philosophy rather than vague feature checklists.
Related resources
These directory entries connect the concept guide to concrete tools, docs, and integrations.
Claude Code Getting Started Guide
Official getting started documentation for Claude Code
Comprehensive getting started guide for Claude Code. Covers installation, configuration, basic commands, MCP setup, and best practices for new users. The essential first read for anyone starting with Claude Code.
VS Code Claude Extension
Integrate Claude Code directly into VS Code
Official VS Code extension bringing Claude Code capabilities into your editor. Features include inline assistance, file context awareness, and seamless integration with VS Code's interface. Perfect for developers who prefer IDE workflows.
GitHub MCP Server
GitHub API integration for Claude with repository management capabilities
Official MCP server providing comprehensive GitHub integration. Enables Claude to read repositories, manage issues and pull requests, search code, and interact with the GitHub API. Essential for any development workflow involving GitHub.
Filesystem MCP Server
Secure file system access with configurable permissions and sandboxing
Official MCP server providing controlled filesystem access. Read, write, and manage files within specified directories. Features include path sandboxing, configurable permissions, and support for common file operations. Perfect for local development workflows.