Claude Code Features

Discover the full power of Claude Code with comprehensive feature coverage, usage examples, and advanced capabilities for 2025.

AI Models

Claude 4 Models

Commands

Commands Reference

Usage Modes

Different Workflows

IDE Integration

Editor Support

Claude 4 AI Models

Choose the right Claude model for your specific coding needs and performance requirements.

Claude Opus 4

MOST CAPABLE

The world's best coding model for complex, long-running tasks and agent workflows. Handles sophisticated multi-file changes with precision.

Best For:

  • Complex architectural decisions
  • Large-scale refactoring
  • Advanced debugging and analysis
  • Multi-file code generation
  • Enterprise-level projects

Usage:

claude --model claude-opus-4

Premium Model: Higher cost but unmatched capability for complex tasks.

Claude Sonnet 4

RECOMMENDED

Perfect balance of capability and speed. Superior coding and reasoning while responding precisely to instructions. Default model for most users.

Best For:

  • General development tasks
  • Code reviews and analysis
  • Feature implementation
  • Bug fixes and optimization
  • Daily development workflow

Usage:

claude --model claude-sonnet-4
# Or simply (default model)
claude

Recommended: Best balance of performance, speed, and cost for most developers.

Claude Haiku 3.5

FASTEST

Lightning-fast responses for simple tasks and rapid iteration cycles. Most cost-effective option for basic coding assistance.

Best For:

  • Quick fixes and simple tasks
  • Code formatting and linting
  • Basic questions and explanations
  • Rapid prototyping
  • Learning and experimentation

Usage:

claude --model claude-haiku-3.5

Cost-Effective: Lowest cost per request, perfect for high-frequency usage.

Model Comparison

Compare Claude models across different dimensions to choose the right one for your needs.

Feature Claude Opus 4 Claude Sonnet 4 Claude Haiku 3.5
Capability ★★★★★ ★★★★☆ ★★★☆☆
Speed ★★★☆☆ ★★★★☆ ★★★★★
Cost ★☆☆☆☆ ★★★☆☆ ★★★★★
Context Window 200K tokens 200K tokens 200K tokens
Best Use Cases Complex architecture, large refactoring General development, code reviews Quick fixes, simple tasks

Usage Modes

Claude Code offers multiple interaction modes for different development scenarios and workflows.

Interactive Mode

Most Popular

Conversational coding assistance with full context awareness. Perfect for normal development workflow.

Usage:

# Start interactive session
claude

# Example conversation
> "Add error handling to this function"
> "Explain how this algorithm works"
> "Refactor this code for better performance"

Features:

  • Full codebase context
  • Multi-turn conversations
  • Real-time file editing
  • Interactive command execution

One-Shot Mode

Quick Tasks

Execute single commands quickly without entering interactive mode. Ideal for automation and quick fixes.

Usage:

# Single command execution
claude -p "fix all TypeScript errors"
claude -p "add tests for the auth module"
claude -p "optimize this component for performance"
claude -p "generate documentation for this API"

Features:

  • No interactive session needed
  • Perfect for scripts and automation
  • Quick task execution
  • CI/CD integration friendly

Headless Mode

Automation

Structured output for CI/CD pipelines and automation systems. Machine-readable responses for integration.

Usage:

# Headless mode with JSON output
claude -p "analyze code quality" --output-format stream-json

# For CI/CD integration
claude -p "run security audit" --headless --json

Features:

  • Structured JSON output
  • No interactive prompts
  • Perfect for CI/CD pipelines
  • Programmatic integration

Planning Mode

Review First

Plan changes without executing them. Review proposed modifications before applying to your codebase.

Usage:

# Enter planning mode
# Press Shift+Tab Shift+Tab in interactive mode

# Or use planning flag
claude -p "refactor this module" --plan-only

Features:

  • No file modifications
  • Detailed change proposals
  • Risk assessment
  • Review before execution

Mode Comparison

Choose the right mode for your specific use case and workflow requirements.

Mode Command Use Case Output Best For
Interactive claude Normal development Conversational Daily coding tasks
One-shot claude -p "task" Quick tasks Direct response Automation scripts
Headless claude -p "task" --json CI/CD integration Structured JSON Pipeline automation
Planning Shift+Tab Shift+Tab Review changes Change proposals Safe refactoring

Claude Code Commands

Master Claude Code with our comprehensive command reference. Access pre-terminal setup commands and interactive terminal commands.

Pre-Terminal Commands

Commands you run before launching Claude Code interactive mode.

Interactive Terminal Commands

Commands available inside Claude Code's interactive terminal.

View Complete Commands Reference

IDE Integration

Seamlessly integrate Claude Code with your favorite development environments for enhanced productivity.

Visual Studio Code

BETA EXTENSION

New beta extension with inline edit suggestions and visual diffs. Claude's proposed edits appear directly in your files.

Installation:

# Install VS Code extension
code --install-extension anthropic.claude-code

# Connect Claude Code to VS Code
claude /ide

Features:

  • Inline edit suggestions
  • Context sharing with open files
  • Visual diffs for changes
  • Linter error integration
  • Keyboard shortcuts (⌘+Esc / Ctrl+Esc)

Workflow:

  1. Open your project in VS Code
  2. Run claude /ide in terminal
  3. Use ⌘+Esc (Mac) or Ctrl+Esc (Windows/Linux)
  4. Review and apply suggested changes

JetBrains IDEs

BETA EXTENSION

Beta extension for IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, and other JetBrains IDEs. Streamlined review and tracking within the familiar editor interface.

Supported IDEs:

  • IntelliJ IDEA
  • PyCharm
  • WebStorm
  • PhpStorm
  • RubyMine
  • GoLand
  • CLion

Installation:

# Install from JetBrains Marketplace
# Search for "Claude Code" in plugin settings

# Or install via Claude Code
claude /ide

Features:

  • Inline code suggestions
  • Integrated diff viewer
  • Context-aware assistance
  • Code review integration

Cursor

NATIVE SUPPORT

Cursor provides excellent native integration with Claude Code through its built-in terminal. Optimized for AI-powered development workflows.

Usage:

# Launch Cursor in project
cursor .

# Use integrated terminal
# Run claude in terminal
claude

Benefits:

  • Native terminal integration
  • File selection context
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Optimized for AI workflows
  • Seamless context sharing

Terminal Integration

UNIVERSAL

Works with any terminal or editor that supports terminal integration. Universal compatibility across all development environments.

Supported Terminals:

  • iTerm2 (macOS)
  • Terminal.app (macOS)
  • Windows Terminal
  • GNOME Terminal (Linux)
  • Konsole (KDE)
  • Alacritty
  • Hyper

Optimization:

# Optimize terminal for Claude Code
claude /terminal-setup

# This enables:
# - Shift+Enter for newlines
# - Bell notifications
# - Optimized settings

IDE Integration Comparison

Compare different IDE integration options to choose the best fit for your workflow.

IDE/Editor Integration Type Features Status Best For
VS Code Beta Extension Inline edits, visual diffs Beta Web development, TypeScript
JetBrains IDEs Beta Extension Integrated diff viewer Beta Java, Python, enterprise
Cursor Native Support Terminal integration Stable AI-first development
Terminal Universal Full functionality Stable Any editor, universal
Vim/Neovim Terminal + Vim mode Vim keybindings Stable Terminal-based workflow

Advanced Features

Explore powerful advanced features for professional development workflows and enterprise use cases.

Permission Management

Fine-grained control over what Claude Code can and cannot do in your environment.

Interactive Control:

# Allow specific tools
/permissions add Edit
/permissions add "Bash(git commit:*)"

# Deny dangerous operations
/permissions deny "Bash(rm*)"

# View current permissions
/permissions

Command-line Control:

# Session-specific permissions
claude --allowedTools Edit,Bash

# Dangerous mode (skip all prompts)
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions

Context Management

Efficiently manage conversation context and memory to optimize token usage and performance.

Context Commands:

# Clear context between major tasks
/clear

# Keep summary, reduce context
/compact

# Resume previous conversation
/resume session_id

Memory Management:

# Edit memory files
/memory

# Add directory to context
/add-dir ~/important-project

GitHub Integration

Seamless integration with GitHub for pull request reviews and repository management.

PR Management:

# Review pull request
/review 123

# Get PR comments
/pr-comments 123

# Setup GitHub Actions
/install-github-app

Workflow Examples:

  • Automated code reviews
  • PR comment analysis
  • GitHub Actions integration
  • Repository insights

Enterprise Features

Enterprise-grade features for large organizations and production deployments.

Cloud Providers:

# Amazon Bedrock
claude --provider bedrock --model anthropic.claude-3-5-sonnet

# Google Vertex AI
claude --provider vertex --model claude-3-5-sonnet

Security & Compliance:

  • FedRAMP High approved
  • DoD IL4/5 workloads
  • Enterprise SSO integration
  • Audit logging

Enterprise Features

Claude Code offers enterprise-grade features for teams and organizations, including advanced security, compliance, and deployment options.

Security & Compliance

Enterprise-grade security features including SSO integration, audit logging, and compliance with SOC 2, GDPR, and HIPAA standards.

  • Single Sign-On (SSO) integration
  • Advanced audit logging
  • Data encryption at rest and in transit
  • Compliance certifications

Team Management

Comprehensive team management tools for administrators, including user provisioning, role-based access control, and usage analytics.

  • Role-based access control
  • Automated user provisioning
  • Usage analytics and reporting
  • Team collaboration features

Ready for Enterprise?

Contact our enterprise team to learn more about Claude Code for your organization.

Contact Sales Enterprise Docs
All Claude Commands