Claude Code has two categories of commands:
- CLI flags — options you pass when starting Claude from your terminal (e.g.
claude --model sonnet). They configure the session before it starts.
- Slash commands — text commands you type inside an active session (e.g.
/help). They control Claude’s behavior while the session is running.
Getting help
# Show all CLI flags
claude --help
# Inside a session, list slash commands
/help
/help lists every slash command available in the current session, including commands added by plugins and skills.
Two types of commands
| Type | When to use | Example |
|---|
| CLI flags | Configure a session at launch — set the model, output format, permission mode | claude --permission-mode acceptEdits "fix the tests" |
| Slash commands | Interact with a running session — manage memory, switch models, commit code | /commit |
/model and /permissions, which change the running configuration in place).
CLI flags
Pass flags directly after claude:
# Non-interactive: print response and exit
claude -p "summarize this file" < README.md
# Set model for the session
claude --model opus
# Accept all file edits automatically
claude --permission-mode acceptEdits
Slash commands
Type a slash command at the input prompt inside any session:
/init
/compact summarize only the last three tasks
/model claude-opus-4-5
Keyboard shortcuts
These shortcuts work inside any interactive Claude Code session:
| Key | Action |
|---|
Ctrl+C | Interrupt the current response (Claude stops mid-turn) |
Ctrl+D | Exit Claude Code |
Ctrl+L | Clear the terminal display (does not clear conversation history) |
Up / Down | Navigate input history |
Tab | Autocomplete slash command names |
Escape | Cancel an in-progress permission prompt |
Ctrl+C interrupts the current response but keeps the conversation alive. Use Ctrl+D or /exit to end the session entirely.
Subcommands
In addition to the main claude command, a few subcommands are available in your terminal:
| Subcommand | Description |
|---|
claude mcp | Configure and manage MCP servers |
claude mcp serve | Start Claude Code as an MCP server |
claude doctor | Diagnose installation and configuration issues |
claude update | Update Claude Code to the latest version |
claude mcp --help
claude doctor