Claude Code is an agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with your development tools. Available in your terminal, IDE, desktop app, and browser.
Claude Code is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps you build features, fix bugs, and automate development tasks. It understands your entire codebase and can work across multiple files and tools to get things done.
The full-featured CLI for working with Claude Code directly in your terminal. Edit files, run commands, and manage your entire project from the command line.
To install Claude Code, use one of the following methods:
macOS, Linux, WSL:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows PowerShell:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Windows CMD:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
If you see The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator, you're in PowerShell, not CMD. If you see 'irm' is not recognized as an internal or external command, you're in CMD, not PowerShell. Your prompt shows PS C:\ when you're in PowerShell and C:\ without the PS when you're in CMD.
Native Windows setups require Git for Windows. Install it first if you don't have it. WSL setups do not need it.
brew install --cask claude-code
Homebrew offers two casks. claude-code tracks the stable release channel, which is typically about a week behind and skips releases with major regressions. claude-code@latest tracks the latest channel and receives new versions as soon as they ship.
winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
Then start Claude Code in any project:
```bash theme={null}
cd your-project
claude
```
You'll be prompted to log in on first use. That's it! [Continue with the Quickstart →](/anthropic/claude-code/history/docs/en/2026-04-21-2114..2026-04-22-2115/quickstart/)
<Tip>
See [advanced setup](/anthropic/claude-code/history/docs/en/2026-04-21-2114..2026-04-22-2115/setup/) for installation options, manual updates, or uninstallation instructions. Visit [troubleshooting](/anthropic/claude-code/history/docs/en/2026-04-21-2114..2026-04-22-2115/troubleshooting/) if you hit issues.
</Tip>
The VS Code extension provides inline diffs, @-mentions, plan review, and conversation history directly in your editor.
Or search for "Claude Code" in the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X on Mac, Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows/Linux). After installing, open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P), type "Claude Code", and select Open in New Tab.
A standalone app for running Claude Code outside your IDE or terminal. Review diffs visually, run multiple sessions side by side, schedule recurring tasks, and kick off cloud sessions.
Run Claude Code in your browser with no local setup. Kick off long-running tasks and check back when they're done, work on repos you don't have locally, or run multiple tasks in parallel. Available on desktop browsers and the Claude iOS app.
Here are some of the ways you can use Claude Code:
Claude Code handles the tedious tasks that eat up your day: writing tests for untested code, fixing lint errors across a project, resolving merge conflicts, updating dependencies, and writing release notes.
```bash theme={null}
claude "write tests for the auth module, run them, and fix any failures"
```
Build features and fix bugs
Describe what you want in plain language. Claude Code plans the approach, writes the code across multiple files, and verifies it works.
For bugs, paste an error message or describe the symptom. Claude Code traces the issue through your codebase, identifies the root cause, and implements a fix. See common workflows for more examples.
Create commits and pull requests
Claude Code works directly with git. It stages changes, writes commit messages, creates branches, and opens pull requests.
claude "commit my changes with a descriptive message"
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI tools to external data sources. With MCP, Claude Code can read your design docs in Google Drive, update tickets in Jira, pull data from Slack, or use your own custom tooling.
Customize with instructions, skills, and hooks
CLAUDE.md is a markdown file you add to your project root that Claude Code reads at the start of every session. Use it to set coding standards, architecture decisions, preferred libraries, and review checklists. Claude also builds auto memory as it works, saving learnings like build commands and debugging insights across sessions without you writing anything.
Create custom commands to package repeatable workflows your team can share, like /review-pr or /deploy-staging.
Hooks let you run shell commands before or after Claude Code actions, like auto-formatting after every file edit or running lint before a commit.
Run agent teams and build custom agents
Spawn multiple Claude Code agents that work on different parts of a task simultaneously. A lead agent coordinates the work, assigns subtasks, and merges results.
For fully custom workflows, the Agent SDK lets you build your own agents powered by Claude Code's tools and capabilities, with full control over orchestration, tool access, and permissions.
Pipe, script, and automate with the CLI
Claude Code is composable and follows the Unix philosophy. Pipe logs into it, run it in CI, or chain it with other tools:
# Analyze recent log output
tail -200 app.log | claude -p"Slack me if you see any anomalies"# Automate translations in CI
claude -p"translate new strings into French and raise a PR for review"# Bulk operations across files
git diff main --name-only| claude -p"review these changed files for security issues"
See the CLI reference for the full set of commands and flags.
Schedule recurring tasks
Run Claude on a schedule to automate work that repeats: morning PR reviews, overnight CI failure analysis, weekly dependency audits, or syncing docs after PRs merge.
Routines run on Anthropic-managed infrastructure, so they keep running even when your computer is off. They can also trigger on API calls or GitHub events. Create them from the web, the Desktop app, or by running /schedule in the CLI.
Desktop scheduled tasks run on your machine, with direct access to your local files and tools
/loop repeats a prompt within a CLI session for quick polling
Work from anywhere
Sessions aren't tied to a single surface. Move work between environments as your context changes:
Step away from your desk and keep working from your phone or any browser with Remote Control
Message Dispatch a task from your phone and open the Desktop session it creates
Kick off a long-running task on the web or iOS app, then pull it into your terminal with claude --teleport
Hand off a terminal session to the Desktop app with /desktop for visual diff review
Route tasks from team chat: mention @Claude in Slack with a bug report and get a pull request back
Use Claude Code everywhere
Each surface connects to the same underlying Claude Code engine, so your CLAUDE.md files, settings, and MCP servers work across all of them.
Beyond the Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, Desktop, and Web environments above, Claude Code integrates with CI/CD, chat, and browser workflows:
I want to...
Best option
Continue a local session from my phone or another device
639Claude Code is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps you build features, fix bugs, and automate development tasks. It understands your entire codebase and can work across multiple files and tools to get things done.639Claude Code is an AI-powered coding assistant that helps you build features, fix bugs, and automate development tasks. It understands your entire codebase and can work across multiple files and tools to get things done.
