Claude Code skills: what they are and how to use them

What skills are in Claude Code

Skills are text files (usually in Markdown format) that define a set of rules, patterns, or workflows that Claude Code should follow. Think of them as compact instruction manuals: instead of writing the same guidelines in every new conversation, you save everything in a skill and the assistant knows exactly what to do when you activate it.

The logic behind skills is simple: Claude Code is very capable, but it needs context to work well. A skill provides that context in a structured, reusable way. If you work with SEO, you can have a skill with the rules for meta titles and meta descriptions. If you write articles regularly, you can have a skill that defines the tone of voice, structure, and quality standards you want. Skills usually live in a folder like ~/.claude/skills/ and are loaded by the assistant when it recognizes they are relevant. To better understand the context where skills fit, visit the article on what Claude Code is.

How they work in practice

When you work with Claude Code, the assistant can load a skill automatically based on keywords, file type, or the project context. You can also invoke it directly by mentioning it in your request.

For example, if you have a skill called article-writing with rules for writing articles (preferred structure, tone of voice, paragraph length), Claude Code applies those rules without you having to repeat them. The result is more consistent and the workflow gets faster.

A typical skill contains:

• Name and description: so Claude Code knows when to use it
• Rules and principles: the guidelines it should follow
• Concrete examples: to illustrate the expected behavior
• Triggers: words or contexts that activate the skill automatically

Examples of useful skills

Here are some of the most common skills and what they do:

The advantage of this system is that you can activate several skills at the same time. When writing an article, you can combine article-writing + avoid-ai-writing at once: each skill adds a layer of context without you having to repeat instructions.

How to create your own skill

Creating a skill does not require programming knowledge. It is essentially writing a text file with clear instructions:

• Create a .md file inside the Claude Code skills folder
• Start with a YAML header with the name, description, and when to use it
• Write your rules in plain, direct language
• Add concrete examples: they help Claude Code understand the intent much better
• Save and test with a real request to check whether the behavior changed

It does not need to be perfect the first time. Start with the tasks that take you the most time to explain and turn them into skills. Over time, you will fine-tune each one and Claude Code starts working more and more according to what you need.

Tips to get the most out of them

Keep each skill focused on a single responsibility. A skill that tries to cover everything ends up doing nothing well. If you are just starting out, pick your most repetitive task and create a skill just for it.

Update your skills as you learn. If you notice that Claude Code is producing something different from what you wanted, refine the skill with more specific examples. The system improves with iteration and with the time you invest in fine-tuning the instructions.

For more inspiration, explore our prompt library. If you are still discovering Claude Code, the full overview of the tool is at doutorai.pt/claude-code.