What are Claude Skills?

Skills are folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that Claude loads dynamically to improve performance on specialized tasks. Think of them as custom onboarding materials that let you package expertise, making Claude a specialist on what matters most to you.

Key Characteristics

• Composable: Multiple skills work together automatically
• Portable: Same format works across Claude.ai and Claude Code
• Efficient: Claude only loads what's needed when relevant
• Powerful: Can include executable code for reliable task execution

How Skills Work

Each skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file with instructions that Claude follows when the skill is relevant. Claude automatically identifies and activates skills based on your task — no explicit invocation needed.

Skills can:

• Add new commands and workflows
• Provide domain-specific knowledge and guidelines
• Automate common tasks with reliable outputs
• Create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations

Where Skills Work

Skills are available in two environments:

• Claude.ai (Web): Available for Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise users. Enable in Settings → Capabilities.
• Claude Code (CLI): Available in beta for Claude Code users. Install via plugin commands or by adding to your skills directory.

Example Skills

Anthropic provides built-in skills for common tasks:

• Document Skills: Create Word docs, PDFs, PowerPoints, and Excel files
• Development Tools: Code generation, testing, and refactoring helpers
• Custom Skills: Build your own for specialized workflows

Learn More

• How to Install a Skill — Step-by-step installation guide
• Anthropic's Skills Documentation — Official help center article
• Anthropic Skills Repository — Example skills and templates on GitHub