Claude Code skills — frontmatter fields and official bundled skills.

Frontmatter Fields (20)

Field Type Required Description
name string No Display name and /slash-command identifier. Defaults to the directory name if omitted
description string Recommended What the skill does. Shown in autocomplete and used by Claude for auto-discovery
when_to_use string No Additional context for when Claude should invoke the skill — trigger phrases and example requests. Appended to description in the skill listing, counts toward the 1,536-character cap
argument-hint string No Hint shown during autocomplete (e.g., [issue-number], [filename])
arguments string/list No Named positional arguments for $name substitution in the skill content. Accepts a space-separated string or a YAML list — names map to argument positions in order
disable-model-invocation boolean No Set true to prevent Claude from automatically invoking this skill
user-invocable boolean No Set false to hide from the / menu — skill becomes background knowledge only, intended for agent preloading
allowed-tools string/list No Tools allowed without permission prompts when this skill is active
disallowed-tools string/list No Tools removed from Claude's available pool while the skill is active (e.g. block AskUserQuestion for a background loop). Accepts a space/comma-separated string or YAML list — the restriction clears on the next message
model string No Model to use when this skill runs (e.g., haiku, sonnet, opus)
effort string No Override the model effort level when invoked (low, medium, high, xhigh, max)
context string No Set to fork to run the skill in an isolated subagent context
agent string No Subagent type when context: fork is set (default: general-purpose)
background boolean No Only applies with context: fork. Set to false to wait for the forked subagent's result in the invoking turn instead of running in the background (default: true). Requires v2.1.218+
hooks object No Lifecycle hooks scoped to this skill
paths string/list No Glob patterns that limit when the skill auto-activates. Accepts a comma-separated string or YAML list — Claude loads the skill only when working with matching files
shell string No Shell for !`command` blocks — bash (default) or powershell. Requires CLAUDE_CODE_USE_POWERSHELL_TOOL=1
metadata YAML map No Free-form YAML map for your own key-value data (e.g., entitlement or catalog fields) read by your own tooling from SKILL.md. Claude Code does not act on its contents; drops values that aren't a map. Do not reuse frontmatter field names (e.g., paths) as keys
license string No License covering the skill. Part of the Agent Skills spec. Claude Code accepts the field but does not act on it
compatibility string No Environment requirements for the skill (max 500 chars), such as intended products or system prerequisites. Part of the Agent Skills spec. Claude Code accepts the field but does not act on it

(25)

# Skill Description
1 code-review Review the current diff for correctness bugs at a chosen effort level (low/medium: fewer, high-confidence findings; high→max: broader coverage) — --comment posts findings as inline PR comments
2 batch Run commands across multiple files in bulk
3 debug Debug failing commands or code issues
4 loop Run a prompt or slash command on a recurring interval (up to 3 days)
5 claude-api Build apps with the Claude API or Anthropic SDK — triggers on anthropic / @anthropic-ai/sdk imports
6 fewer-permission-prompts Scan transcripts for common read-only Bash/MCP calls and add a prioritized allowlist to .claude/settings.json to reduce permission prompts
7 run Launch and drive the project's app to see a change working in the real app (not just tests). Requires v2.1.145
8 verify Build and run the app to confirm a code change does what it should, without falling back to tests or type checks. Requires v2.1.145
9 run-skill-generator Teaches /run and /verify how to build and launch the project — records a per-project launch recipe at .claude/skills/run-/. Requires v2.1.145
10 simplify Review changed code for cleanup opportunities (reuse, simplification, efficiency, abstraction level), four review agents in parallel. From v2.1.154 it does not hunt for correctness bugs — use /code-review for that
11 design Draft UI mockups, screen flows, landing pages, or posters as artboards on one canvas, published as an artifact running a research preview of Claude Design's editor. Where saving is enabled for the account, artboards are edited on the canvas and saved to publish a new version; otherwise view-and-export as PNG or PDF. Requires a session where artifacts are available. Available on the Anthropic API; unavailable on Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud Agent Platform, and Microsoft Foundry. Introduced v2.1.234
12 design-sync Convert your repo's React design system and upload it to Claude Design — optionally name the design system (e.g., /design-sync Acme DS). First-time sync verifies every component and can take hours on large repos. Available on the Anthropic API only (unavailable on Bedrock, Google Cloud Agent Platform, and Microsoft Foundry). Standalone Claude Design closes December 14, 2026
13 dataviz Design charts, graphs, and dashboards with a color-palette validator for accessible, consistent visualizations — triggers on requests for any chart, graph, plot, or data visualization in any output medium. Introduced v2.1.198
14 doctor Setup/health checkup for your Claude Code configuration. The one bundled skill exempt from disableBundledSkills — stays typable even when that setting is on. Reclassified from a built-in command to a bundled skill in v2.1.205
15 review Fast single-pass, read-only review of a GitHub pull request. For a multi-agent deep dive, use /code-review instead. From v2.1.186–v2.1.201 used the /code-review medium engine; v2.1.202 reverted to a fast single-pass review. Became Skill-tool-invocable in v2.1.108
16 security-review Review the current diff for security vulnerabilities and suggest fixes. Pass --fix to apply findings or --comment to post them as inline GitHub PR comments. Became Skill-tool-invocable in v2.1.108
17 workflow-authoring Load the reference for writing dynamic workflow scripts: script API, resume behavior, quality patterns, and worked examples. Claude normally loads it on its own before writing a script. Available only when dynamic workflows are enabled. Requires v2.1.248
18 skill-doctor Reports which loaded skills go unused and what each costs in context, so you can prune them. Introduced v2.1.261
19 update-config Configure the Claude Code harness via settings.json — describe any settings change (allow a command, set an env var, add a hook) and Claude edits the matching settings file; for simple options like theme or model, use /config instead
20 slides Make a new presentation as a Claude Slides artifact filled from your brief (e.g., /slides a quarterly review for the sales team)
21 artifact-capabilities Loads the reference for the runtime capabilities a published artifact can use, such as calling connectors or offering a file download, including which ones your account has. Claude normally loads it on its own before building a page that uses one. Available where artifacts are
22 artifact-diagramming Loads diagramming guidance for artifacts: when a diagram helps, what to draw, and how to write inline SVG that stays legible in light and dark themes. Claude normally loads it on its own when a diagram would help in an artifact. Requires v2.1.221+
23 claude-in-chrome Has Claude carry out a task in your browser (test a page, fill a form, read console logs) through Claude in Chrome. Available when Chrome integration is enabled (e.g. claude --chrome)
24 artifact-design Loads design guidance and fundamentals for published artifact pages — layout, theming, sizing, and prose style. Claude normally loads it on its own before building any artifact. Introduced v2.1.281
25 plugin-authoring Make a mod — a change to Claude's own interface or behaviour, such as a live pane or panel, a band above the prompt, a status line, a toast, a slash command, or a hook on tool calls or prompts. Used to make, change or debug a mod or its hooks module. Requires v2.1.287+

See also: Official Skills Repository for community-maintained installable skills.

Sources