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This quickstart guide will have you using AI-powered coding assistance in just a few minutes. By the end, you’ll understand how to use Claude Code for common development tasks.

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Before you begin

Make sure you have:
This guide covers the terminal CLI. Claude Code is also available on the web, as a desktop app, in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, in Slack, and in CI/CD with GitHub Actions and GitLab. See all interfaces.

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Step 1: Install Claude Code

To install Claude Code, use one of the following methods:

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Step 2: Log in to your account

Claude Code requires an account to use. When you start an interactive session with the claude command, you’ll need to log in: 
claude
# You'll be prompted to log in on first use

/login
# Follow the prompts to log in with your account
You can log in using any of these account types: Once logged in, your credentials are stored and you won’t need to log in again. To switch accounts later, use the /login command.

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Step 3: Start your first session

Open your terminal in any project directory and start Claude Code: 
cd /path/to/your/project
claude
You’ll see the Claude Code welcome screen with your session information, recent conversations, and latest updates. Type /help for available commands or /resume to continue a previous conversation.
After logging in (Step 2), your credentials are stored on your system. Learn more in Credential Management.

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Step 4: Ask your first question

Let’s start with understanding your codebase. Try one of these commands: 
what does this project do?
Claude will analyze your files and provide a summary. You can also ask more specific questions: 
what technologies does this project use?

where is the main entry point?

explain the folder structure
You can also ask Claude about its own capabilities: 
what can Claude Code do?

how do I create custom skills in Claude Code?

can Claude Code work with Docker?
Claude Code reads your files as needed - you don’t have to manually add context. Claude also has access to its own documentation and can answer questions about its features and capabilities.

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Step 5: Make your first code change

Now let’s make Claude Code do some actual coding. Try a simple task: 
add a hello world function to the main file
Claude Code will:
  1. Find the appropriate file
  2. Show you the proposed changes
  3. Ask for your approval
  4. Make the edit
Claude Code always asks for permission before modifying files. You can approve individual changes or enable “Accept all” mode for a session.

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Step 6: Use Git with Claude Code

Claude Code makes Git operations conversational: 
what files have I changed?

commit my changes with a descriptive message
You can also prompt for more complex Git operations: 
create a new branch called feature/quickstart

show me the last 5 commits

help me resolve merge conflicts

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Step 7: Fix a bug or add a feature

Claude is proficient at debugging and feature implementation. Describe what you want in natural language: 
add input validation to the user registration form
Or fix existing issues: 
there's a bug where users can submit empty forms - fix it
Claude Code will:
  • Locate the relevant code
  • Understand the context
  • Implement a solution
  • Run tests if available

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Step 8: Test out other common workflows

There are a number of ways to work with Claude: Refactor code 
refactor the authentication module to use async/await instead of callbacks
Write tests 
write unit tests for the calculator functions
Update documentation 
update the README with installation instructions
Code review 
review my changes and suggest improvements
Remember: Claude Code is your AI pair programmer. Talk to it like you would a helpful colleague - describe what you want to achieve, and it will help you get there.

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Essential commands

Here are the most important commands for daily use:
CommandWhat it doesExample
claudeStart interactive modeclaude
claude "task"Run a one-time taskclaude "fix the build error"
claude -p "query"Run one-off query, then exitclaude -p "explain this function"
claude -cContinue most recent conversation in current directoryclaude -c
claude -rResume a previous conversationclaude -r
claude commitCreate a Git commitclaude commit
/clearClear conversation history/clear
/helpShow available commands/help
exit or Ctrl+CExit Claude Codeexit
See the CLI reference for a complete list of commands.

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Pro tips for beginners

For more, see best practices and common workflows.
Instead of: “fix the bug”Try: “fix the login bug where users see a blank screen after entering wrong credentials”
Break complex tasks into steps:
1. create a new database table for user profiles
2. create an API endpoint to get and update user profiles
3. build a webpage that allows users to see and edit their information
Before making changes, let Claude understand your code:
analyze the database schema

build a dashboard showing products that are most frequently returned by our UK customers
  • Press ? to see all available keyboard shortcuts
  • Use Tab for command completion
  • Press ↑ for command history
  • Type / to see all commands and skills

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What’s next?

Now that you’ve learned the basics, explore more advanced features:

How Claude Code works

Understand the agentic loop, built-in tools, and how Claude Code interacts with your project

Best practices

Get better results with effective prompting and project setup

Common workflows

Step-by-step guides for common tasks

Extend Claude Code

Customize with CLAUDE.md, skills, hooks, MCP, and more

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Getting help

  • In Claude Code: Type /help or ask “how do I…”
  • Documentation: You’re here! Browse other guides
  • Community: Join our Discord for tips and support