Claude just got a whole lot better at handling your specific work tasks. Instead of repeating the same instructions, you can now package your know-how into reusable capabilities called Skills that Claude applies automatically when needed.
Skills are folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that Claude loads dynamically to boost performance on specialised tasks. They’re like training guides that show Claude how your company writes reports, analyzes data, or manages workflows.
Once you create a skill, it works across Claude.ai, Claude Code, and the API with zero extra setup. You can use built-in skills for common tasks like making Excel spreadsheets or PowerPoint decks, or add your organisation’s procedures for brand guidelines and documentation formats.
Or, you can build totally custom workflows for your personal style. Skills stack together for complex multi-step jobs, and Claude just grabs the right ones when they’re relevant to whatever you’re asking.
Key Takeaways
- Skills teach Claude to follow your specific procedures and workflows so you get consistent results every time
- You can combine multiple skills for complex tasks and use them across all Claude platforms without modifications
- Skills package your company’s knowledge into reusable capabilities that work for entire teams
What Are Claude Skills?
Claude Skills are reusable bundles that teach Claude how to handle specific tasks the same way every time. They load automatically when needed and help Claude work more consistently—whether that’s creating documents or running company workflows.
Key Features of Claude Skills
Skills are folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that Claude loads as soon as it detects they’re needed. They’re like mini-playbooks with step-by-step instructions in a SKILL.md file, plus any templates or scripts needed to finish the job.
The big win here is progressive disclosure. Claude checks your available skills and only loads the ones that matter for each task. This keeps things streamlined, without overwhelming Claude’s context window, but still gives it access to your specialised knowledge.
You can write your own skills in Markdown—no coding required for basic stuff. If you’re up for it, you can attach executable scripts for more complex workflows.
Skills work everywhere across Claude, unlike Projects that only apply to specific chats. When you or your organisation create custom skills, they’re available in all your conversations and activate dynamically when needed.
How Claude Skills Differ from Other AI Tools
Skills aren’t like other Claude features you might know. Projects give Claude static background info that’s always there, while skills provide specialised procedures that only kick in when they fit.
Custom instructions apply to all chats. Skills are task-specific and load only when needed, making them better for workflows you don’t use every time.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) connects Claude to outside services and data. Skills provide procedural knowledge about how to actually do the task. You can use both: MCP gives Claude the tools, and skills teach it how to use them right.
The Agent Skills specification is published as an open standard at agentskills.io. So, your skills aren’t locked to Claude—they’ll work across any AI platform that adopts the standard. That’s pretty cool, honestly.
Typical Use Cases
Teams use skills to encode repeatable procedures like brand guidelines, spreadsheet workflows, or compliance checks. Before skills, you’d have to rely on long system prompts or custom engineering to get that consistency.
Document creation is a big one. You can teach Claude your company’s formatting, tone, and structure preferences, and every doc will follow those rules automatically.
Data analysis workflows also benefit from skills that define your organisation’s specific methods. New team members can get expert-level results right away since the institutional knowledge is all built into the skill.
For Team and Enterprise plans, organisation owners can provision skills for all users. Skills show up in every team member’s list and can be enabled or disabled by default. That way, everyone’s on the same page without extra setup.
Anatomy of a Claude Skill
A Claude Skill is built around a specific folder structure, with a SKILL.md file at its heart. You can add supporting materials like templates and scripts to help Claude know exactly how you want things done.
Understanding the SKILL.md File
The SKILL.md file is the brain of your Claude Skill. This file tells Claude what your skill does, when to use it, and how to do it step by step.
At the top, you’ll include some basic metadata—a clear name, a short description, and keywords to help Claude recognize when to load it. Think of these as tags that trigger your skill automatically.
The main section of your skill.md file contains detailed instructions as a checklist. You can throw in comments to explain your reasoning or add context. These notes help Claude and other teammates understand why certain steps matter.
You can also specify what inputs your skill expects and what outputs it should produce. This way, things stay consistent every time Claude runs the task.
Skill Folder Structure
Your Claude Skill lives in its own folder to keep everything neat. You’ll usually have your SKILL.md file and any supporting files Claude might need.
Inside, you can add templates to show Claude the exact format you want. For presentations, maybe a branded PowerPoint template. For tracking metrics, an Excel layout works great.
Sample files or reference docs can go in the folder, too. These give Claude examples to follow. Some skills might include scripts or code snippets that handle technical stuff.
The folder acts like a mini project with everything Claude needs bundled together. This makes your skills easy to share and move around.
Progressive Disclosure in Skills
Progressive disclosure means you don’t have to show Claude everything at once. You can set up your skill to reveal info only when it’s needed for a certain step.
This works well for complex workflows with branches or multiple paths. Your SKILL.md might have different sections that Claude checks based on where you are in the process.
You can also create custom onboarding materials that introduce your skill gradually. New users might get a simple version, while experienced folks can dive into advanced features. This keeps people from getting overwhelmed right away.
Progressive disclosure keeps your skills flexible and less cluttered. Claude can jump to the right part based on context, so the process feels more natural, less robotic.
Building and Managing Claude Skills
You can build Claude Skills in a bunch of ways, from using built-in tools to crafting custom workflows from scratch. The process is all about bundling instructions, resources, and scripts into reusable packages that Claude pulls in when needed.
Using the Skill-Creator
Claude comes with a built-in skill called the skill-creator to help you make new skills. This tool asks questions to figure out your requirements and what you’re trying to get done.
When you start with the skill-creator, you just give basic instructions about what you want to automate. The tool will then ask clarifying questions about your style, format, and any specific needs. For example, if you’re making a YouTube script skill, it’ll check your video style or who you’re targeting.
Once it has enough info, the skill-creator generates a full skill structure for you. You can ask Claude to zip the skill file, download it, and upload it to your skills library for future use. It saves a ton of time, especially if you’re new to skills.
Creating Custom Workflows
You can also make skills manually by setting up a folder with a skill.md file at its core. Each skill is a markdown file that teaches Claude best practices for tasks like database optimization, form validation, or API security.
Your skill file starts with a YAML front matter—a brief description of what the skill does. This front matter is key, since Claude looks at it first to decide if the skill fits your current task. The rest is markdown: detailed instructions, examples, and links to any extra resources.
You can add supporting files like code scripts, docs, and sample outputs in your skill folder. Claude loads these only when needed, which keeps things tidy. When you’re ready, zip up the folder and upload it through Claude’s settings under Capabilities > Skills.
Best Practices for Skill Development
Start by spotting workflows you repeat a lot in Claude. Think about instructions you’ve written over and over, or tasks that always follow the same steps.
Keep your front matter description short and clear so Claude knows when to use the skill. A good description avoids bloating the context and makes sure the right skill pops up at the right time.
Bundle all the important resources together. Toss in example files, reference docs, and code snippets that show what the output should look like. The more complete your skill package, the better Claude will handle the task without extra help.
Test your skills thoroughly before relying on them for crucial work. Try out different requests to make sure the skill responds well in various scenarios. You can also explore ready-to-use examples to see how others structure their skills effectively.
Integration Across the Claude Ecosystem
Skills work seamlessly across all Claude platforms. You can use the same workflow whether you’re chatting on the web, coding in your IDE, or building automated systems through the API.
Skills on Claude.ai
You can browse and enable skills right from the claude.ai web interface. Head over to Settings, then Capabilities, and finally Skills to check out what’s available.
The platform now features an expanding set of partner-built skills from companies like Notion, Canva, Figma, and Atlassian. No technical background? No problem—you can dive in right away.
Building your own skills is easier than ever. Just describe what you want Claude to do and it’ll help you put the skill together.
If you want more control, you can write instructions yourself or upload folders for more advanced workflows. New preview features show you what each skill does before you enable it.
Claude can even help you tweak existing skills if you want to adjust how they work. Customizing workflows doesn’t mean starting over from scratch.
Working with Claude Code
Claude Code brings skills right into your development environment. You can install them from the plugin directory or check them into your repository directly.
Skills work with Claude Code to automate repetitive coding tasks, so you don’t waste your context window every time. Teach Claude your workflows once, then reuse them across your projects.
The same skills you enable on claude.ai just work in Claude Code. That means you get a consistent experience whether you’re prototyping in chat or writing production code in your IDE.
API and Developer Platform Integration
The Claude Developer Platform supports skills at the /v1/skills endpoint. Make sure to enable code execution and file creation for skills to run through the API.
Skills can be versioned centrally and auto-invoked when tasks match their purpose. This keeps your automated workflows consistent without you stepping in each time.
If you’re on Claude Team or Enterprise, admins can roll out skills across your whole organization from Admin Settings. These are on by default for everyone, but users can still turn them off if they want.
Popular Skill Categories and Examples
Claude Skills work across tons of professional areas—from handling Word docs and Excel sheets to creating PowerPoints and managing finance workflows. You can build skills to automate repetitive stuff or add extra knowledge to your workflow.
Document and Content Automation
Set up skills to handle Word docs, PDFs, and other text files. Document processing skills help you extract data from forms, merge files, or convert formats without slogging through it all yourself.
A DOCX skill might fill out templates, track changes in legal docs, or pull out sections from reports. You could build one that reads contracts and pulls out key dates, payment terms, and names into a handy table.
Content teams can use skills to enforce brand guidelines. They check tone, formatting, and terminology so everything lines up. One skill might scan marketing materials and flag anything off-brand.
Data Analysis and Spreadsheets
Excel spreadsheet skills handle calculations, data cleaning, and report generation. Maybe you need a skill that imports sales data, removes duplicates, applies formulas, and spits out summary tables.
Financial analysis skills can build models from scratch. They set up revenue projections, calculate things like IRR or NPV, and format results for presentations. A budgeting skill could take your spending data and categorize transactions automatically.
Validation skills check for errors before you share reports. They verify formulas, spot missing values, and keep formatting in check. You can build skills that create charts and graphs to match your reporting standards.
Design and Presentations
PowerPoint skills automate slide creation using your templates. A skill might take quarterly results and generate a deck with charts, tables, and formatted text on branded slides.
Integrate Canva workflows into Claude Skills for visual content. A social media skill could resize images, add filters, and put text overlays following your brand look. Design skills might generate different graphic variations for A/B testing.
Presentation skills help keep formatting consistent. Fonts, colors, and spacing match across slides. Some skills turn dense data into visual stories by picking the right chart types and arranging info logically.
Finance and Industry-Specific Workflows
Finance workflows get a boost from skills that handle regulatory docs, financial statements, and compliance checks. A skill might pull data from 10-K filings, calculate ratios, and compare results across quarters.
Industry-specific skills bake in specialized knowledge. Healthcare skills might process medical records under HIPAA guidelines. Legal skills could review NDAs and flag anything unusual.
Accounting skills automate reconciliation, match transactions, and prep audit docs. Investment analysis skills might screen stocks, calculate portfolio metrics, and generate research summaries. You can also build skills for Box content management—organize files, add metadata, and route docs for approval.
Advanced Concepts and Marketplace
Claude Skills go way beyond basic automation. They support sophisticated agentic workflows where Claude chains multiple skills together, and various marketplaces help you find pre-built skills from trusted sources.
Agentic Workflows and Cross-Platform Portability
Skills enable agentic workflows—Claude decides which capabilities to use based on your request. You don’t have to manually start each skill; Claude reads the description and figures out what’s needed.
This model-invoked approach means you can combine several skills in one conversation. Claude might use a data analysis skill, then switch to a visualization skill, then apply a reporting skill—no need to specify each step.
Skills move easily across platforms thanks to their simple folder structure. Each skill has a SKILL.md file with YAML frontmatter and markdown instructions. You can share skills across projects, teams, or installations by copying the skill directory or pushing it to a git repo.
The Claude Agent SDK supports Python, TypeScript, and Go for building complex skills with executable code. This lets you bundle scripts and utilities right with your skill instructions.
Skills Marketplace Overview
Several third-party marketplaces have popped up to help you find pre-built skills without digging through endless GitHub repos. These platforms offer smart search, filtering, and quality ratings.
SKILLS.pub lists over 300 Claude skills in a marketplace format. Explore skills for database optimization, API security, testing, or creative stuff like art and music generation.
The official Anthropic skills repo on GitHub shows what’s possible with the system. You’ll find examples from web app testing to enterprise workflows for comms and branding.
Some services like ClaudeSkills promise to turn docs into executable skills in under a minute. These marketplaces make it easier to find what you need instead of building everything yourself.
Security, Code Execution, and Trusted Sources
Skills can include executable code—Python scripts or shell commands that run on your system. This means you need to think about security, since you’re letting Claude execute code from elsewhere.
Always review skills from trusted sources before using them. Check the SKILL.md file and any scripts to see what will actually run. The allowed-tools field lets you restrict which tools Claude can use when a skill is active, adding a safety net.
For read-only tasks, you can limit skills to tools like Read, Grep, and Glob. That way, the skill can’t modify files or run risky commands.
When downloading from marketplaces, stick to official repos and well-reviewed skills if you can. Project skills in .claude/skills/ are shared with your team through git, so double-check before committing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting started with Claude Skills means enabling code execution in your settings and picking from pre-built options or making your own custom workflows. You’ll find resources on official docs and community marketplaces.
How do I get started with using Claude Skills for my project?
First, enable code execution in your Claude settings under Capabilities. This step is required for Skills to work.
Once that’s on, try Anthropic’s built-in skills to get a feel for things. These run automatically when Claude detects you need them.
When you’re ready, upload your own custom skills. Go to Settings > Capabilities and look for the Skills section to add your files.
Where can I find a comprehensive list of examples to implement Claude Skills?
The Claude Skills Learning Centre has real-world case studies and ready-to-use examples. It’s a good spot to see how others are using Skills.
You can also check out the Skills Directory inside Claude. This features pro-built skills from Notion, Figma, Atlassian, and more, all working with their MCP connectors.
What’s the best way to contribute to Claude Skills on GitHub?
Honestly, there isn’t a ton of info on contributing to Claude Skills on GitHub. Your best bet: look for an official repo with contribution guidelines.
Check out community projects or skill libraries that take pull requests. If you submit something, follow their code standards and documentation rules.
Can I download and practise with a Claude Skills library from an online marketplace?
Yes, there are several online marketplaces for Claude Skills you can browse and download from. These let you search through collections of pre-built skills for different tasks.
The Claude Skills Hub Marketplace lists skills for database optimization, API security, testing, and more. Download these to teach Claude your workflows.
Just remember to audit any skill from less-trusted sources before you use it. Skim the files, look for anything sketchy, and be wary of external connections.
Are there any up-to-date docs on Claude Skills for quick reference?
Claude’s official help center has detailed docs on using Skills. You’ll find info on enabling, discovering, and managing your skills.
The official Skills page on Claude.com explains how Skills package your expertise so Claude delivers consistent results. It’s worth bookmarking for quick lookups.
What should I know about integrating Claude Skills into my codebase?
Claude Skills run inside a secure, sandboxed environment. There’s no data persistence between sessions, so your info disappears when you’re done working.
The main risks? Prompt injection and data exfiltration from malicious code. Claude has some built-in protections, but it’s smart to review any skills before you add them.
Skills work better when you split them up for different tasks instead of cramming everything into one. Keep your descriptions clear and specific so Claude knows exactly when to use each skill.
