A Claude Code Command Cheat Sheet

Claude Code is Anthropic’s AI assistant for the terminal. I can’t write code, yet I built this site with it. Here are the commands I use, grouped by situation.

Slash commands

Type / in the prompt to open the command list.

Everyday

Command	What it does
/help	Show help and every available command
/clear	Clear the conversation and start fresh (use it between tasks)
/compact	Compress the conversation history to save context
/resume	Resume an earlier conversation
/rewind	Go back to an earlier step, including undoing code edits
/exit	Quit Claude Code

Settings and models

Command	What it does
/model	Switch model (Opus / Sonnet / Haiku)
/fast	Toggle fast mode
/config	Open settings (theme, default model and more)
/permissions	Choose which actions no longer need your approval
/statusline	Customize the status line
/login	Sign in; /logout signs out

Projects and memory

Command	What it does
/init	Generate a CLAUDE.md guide for the current project
/memory	Edit memory files so Claude remembers your preferences
/add-dir	Give Claude access to another folder
/context	See how much context is in use

Usage and diagnostics

Command	What it does
/cost	Token spend for this conversation
/usage	Plan usage and limits
/status	Account, model and version details
/doctor	Check the installation for problems
/export	Export the conversation

Advanced

Command	What it does
/mcp	Manage MCP servers (connections to outside tools)
/agents	Manage subagents
/hooks	Set up automations, such as “run X every time a file changes”
/plugin	Install and manage plugins
/code-review	Review code changes for bugs
/loop 5m task	Repeat a task on an interval

Keyboard shortcuts

Keys	What it does
Esc	Interrupt what Claude is doing
Esc Esc	Press twice to go back to an earlier message
Shift + Tab	Cycle modes: normal → auto-accept edits → plan mode
↑ ↓	Browse what you typed before
\ + Enter	New line in the prompt
Ctrl + C	Cancel input; press twice to quit
Ctrl + V	Paste an image, such as a screenshot

Input prefixes

Prefix	What it does	Example
@	Reference a file or folder	@plan.pdf summarize this
!	Run a shell command directly	! ls
/	Run a slash command	/clear

Launching from the terminal

Before you’re inside Claude Code, run these in the terminal:

claude                  # start an interactive session
claude "question"       # start with a first question
claude -c               # continue the last conversation
claude -r               # pick an earlier conversation to resume
claude -p "question"    # answer once and exit, handy in scripts
claude --model opus     # start with a specific model
claude update           # update to the latest version

Habits for beginners

1. Run /clear before a new task so the old conversation doesn’t interfere.
2. For bigger tasks, press Shift + Tab into plan mode. Claude proposes a plan and waits for your approval.
3. If Claude heads the wrong way, press Esc, and undo unwanted edits with /rewind.
4. When a long conversation makes Claude forgetful, run /compact.
5. Run /init once at the start of a project so Claude gets up to speed quickly every time.

Commands change between versions. For the definitive list, type /help on your own machine.