Claude commands cheat sheet
In Claude Code, anything starting with / is a “slash command”. Commands are added and removed between versions, so go by the list shown when you type /help in your version. Here are some common ones.
Common slash commands
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
/help | Show all commands supported by your version |
/clear | Clear the current conversation and start a new topic, reducing distraction |
/compact | Compress a long conversation, keeping the key points to save context space |
/init | Have it read the project and create a project notes file; later chats carry that background |
/model | View or switch the model (options depend on your subscription) |
/resume | Go back to an earlier conversation |
Good habits
- New topic? /clear: the messier the context, the worse the results.
- Long conversation? /compact: keeps the context from filling up.
- To interrupt: while it is running you can usually press
Esc; follow the on-screen hint. - Project notes file: put project rules (code style, test commands, cautions) in it so it makes fewer mistakes.
Note: whether a command is available depends on your subscription and client version; when it says unavailable, follow the official description.