Slash Commands: Built-Ins And Custom

Slash commands are the keyboard shortcuts of Claude Code. The built-ins handle plumbing; the custom ones are where teams encode their workflows.

9 min · Reviewed 2026

What slash commands do

Slash commands are special inputs starting with / that trigger meta-actions instead of going to the model. They control session state (`/clear`, `/compact`), surface help (`/help`), and let teams define custom workflows that anyone can run by name.

The built-ins worth memorizing

Command	What it does	When to use
/clear	Resets session context	Starting unrelated work
/compact	Summarizes the session, replaces context with summary	Long session, context filling up
/init	Creates a starter CLAUDE.md	First time in a project
/help	Lists available commands	Forgot a name
/status	Shows current session state	Sanity check

Custom slash commands

Custom commands let your team encode 'the way we do X' as a runnable name. They live in your project (typically under a `.claude/` folder) and become available as `/name`. Anyone with the repo gets the workflow for free.

Examples worth building

/review — runs a checklist for the current changes (lint, tests, conventions, security)
/spike — generates a throwaway prototype script in a sandbox folder
/changelog — drafts a CHANGELOG entry from the diff
/perf — runs a perf harness on a function and reports the numbers
/release-notes — pulls commit messages and writes user-facing notes

Apply: build one custom command

Pick a workflow you do every week (review, deploy, changelog)
Write a prompt that describes the workflow precisely
Save it as a custom slash command in `.claude/commands/`
Run it three times; refine the prompt
Commit it so the rest of the team can use it

The big idea: slash commands turn 'how we work' into a one-keystroke entry point. Master /compact, then build the few customs your team actually runs.

End-of-lesson check

8 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-claude-code-slash-commands-creators

What is the main idea of "Slash Commands: Built-Ins And Custom"?
1. Slash commands are the keyboard shortcuts of Claude Code. The built-ins handle plumbing; the custom ones are where teams encode their workflows.
2. Use AI as the final authority for the whole decision
3. Avoid checking the answer once it sounds polished
4. Focus only on speed instead of judgment
Which concept is most central to "Slash Commands: Built-Ins And Custom"?
1. session control
2. slash command
3. custom command
4. workflow encoding
Which use of AI fits this topic best?
1. Let the AI decide what matters without your review
2. Use the answer before checking whether it fits the situation
3. /review — runs a checklist for the current changes (lint, tests, conventions, security)
4. Treat the AI output as automatically correct
What should a careful learner remember about "/compact is the daily move"?
1. Use AI to draft or organize ideas about slash command, then verify before acting.
2. Skip the context so the tool can guess faster
3. Treat the output as private even after sharing it online
4. Use the answer without checking the source
You want to use AI after this lesson. What is the safest next step?
1. Act immediately because the AI answer is written clearly
2. Use AI for drafting and comparison, but verify before publishing or relying on it.
3. Hide uncertainty so the final answer looks cleaner
4. Use private or sensitive details before checking permission
How should AI output about slash command be treated?
1. As proof that no other source is needed
2. As a replacement for context, consent, or expert review
3. As a draft or helper output that still needs human judgment and verification
4. As something that becomes correct when it sounds confident
Name one way to verify an AI answer about slash command.
Which action would help you apply "Slash Commands: Built-Ins And Custom" responsibly?
1. Use the tool to avoid thinking through the tradeoff
2. Keep going even if the output conflicts with a trusted source
3. Treat the AI output as automatically correct
4. /spike — generates a throwaway prototype script in a sandbox folder

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Tendril · Creators · Tools Literacy