# Skills Best Practice

![Last Updated](https://img.shields.io/badge/Last_Updated-Apr%2018%2C%202026%207%3A53%20PM%20PKT-white?style=flat&labelColor=555) ![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/Claude_Code-v2.1.114-blue?style=flat&labelColor=555)<br>
[![Implemented](https://img.shields.io/badge/Implemented-2ea44f?style=flat)](../implementation/claude-skills-implementation.md)

Claude Code skills — frontmatter fields and official bundled skills.

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## Frontmatter Fields (14)

| 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]`) |
| `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 | No | Tools allowed without permission prompts when this skill is active |
| `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`) |
| `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` |

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## ![Official](../!/tags/official.svg) **(5)**

| # | Skill | Description |
|---|-------|-------------|
| 1 | `simplify` | Review changed code for reuse, quality, and efficiency — refactors to eliminate duplication |
| 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 |

See also: [Official Skills Repository](https://github.com/anthropics/skills/tree/main/skills) for community-maintained installable skills.

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## Sources

- [Claude Code Skills — Docs](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills)
- [Skills Discovery in Monorepos](../reports/claude-skills-for-larger-mono-repos.md)
- [Claude Code CHANGELOG](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md)
