Skills

SKILL.md files that define how a specific task should be executed, invoked by name rather than loaded passively.

Definition

Skills are actively invoked by name (e.g. /pre-pr, /meeting-prep) unlike CLAUDE.md rules which load passively into every session. A skill specifies what to gather, which tools to call, and where to pause for human input. Skills sit above the tool layer — they orchestrate CLI commands and MCP tools, dispatch subagents in parallel, and synthesize results. The feedback loop is fast: describe the workflow, let the agent draft the file, refine, and test.

Source

• Extend Claude with skills - Claude Code Docs
• Agent Skills - Claude API Docs

Related

• Subagent
• Tool
• Workflow