Claude Quick Reference Guide
An unofficial summary of how to use Claude — chat app, API, and Claude Code
Compiled July 2026 from Anthropic's public documentation.
1. Getting Started with [Link]
[Link] is Anthropic's consumer chat product. You can access it in a few ways:
• Web: go to [Link] and sign in to chat in your browser.
• Desktop: download the Claude Desktop app for Mac or Windows.
• Mobile: download the Claude app for iOS or Android.
You must be located in a supported country and be at least 18 years old (or the minimum age in your
region) to use Claude.
Plans
Anthropic offers free and paid tiers (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise) with different usage limits and features.
Plan details and limits change over time, so check [Link] for the current comparison.
Writing Good Prompts
• Start simple — ask straightforward questions first to get a feel for how Claude responds.
• Be specific — clearer requests get better results.
• Iterate — refine your prompt or ask follow-up questions rather than starting over.
• Talk to Claude naturally, the way you'd talk to a coworker or friend.
2. Key Features in the Claude App
• Web search — Claude can search the web for current information.
• Deep research — for more thorough, multi-step research tasks.
• Code execution & file creation — Claude can write and run code, and produce downloadable files
(docs, slides, spreadsheets, PDFs).
• Artifacts — a side panel for viewing and iterating on generated content like code, documents, and
interactive apps.
• Projects — organize related chats, files, and custom instructions together.
• Connectors — link Claude to your other tools and data (e.g. Google Drive, calendars).
• Memory — Claude can optionally remember context across conversations if you enable it in Settings.
Exact feature availability depends on your plan and platform (web, desktop, mobile) and may change — check
[Link] or [Link] for the latest details.
3. Building with the Claude API
Developers can access Claude programmatically through the Anthropic API using the Messages endpoint.
Basic example (Python):
import anthropic
client = [Link]()
message = [Link](
model="claude-sonnet-5",
max_tokens=1024,
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello, Claude"}]
)
print([Link][0].text)
Core API capabilities
• Extended thinking — lets the model reason step by step before responding.
• Vision — send images or PDFs as input.
• Tool use (function calling) — let Claude call your own functions/APIs.
• Web search tool — built-in tool for retrieving current information.
• Code execution — run code server-side.
• Structured outputs — get responses in a defined schema (e.g. JSON).
• Prompt caching — reduce cost/latency for repeated context.
• Streaming — receive responses incrementally.
• Batch processing — send large volumes of requests asynchronously at lower cost.
4. Claude Code & Agentic Tools
• Claude Code — an agentic coding tool for the terminal, desktop, or mobile app; lets you delegate
coding tasks to Claude.
• Claude Cowork — an agentic knowledge-work app for non-developers, can use
browsing/spreadsheet/slide agents as tools.
• Claude in Chrome — a browsing agent.
• Claude in Excel / PowerPoint — spreadsheet and slide agents.
5. Where to Find Official, Up-to-Date Docs
Resource URL Best for
Claude Help Center [Link] Using [Link], plans, billing, settings
Claude Platform Docs [Link]/docs API reference, SDKs, models
Anthropic Academy [Link]/learn Guided courses & certifications
Anthropic Cookbook [Link] (Anthropic Cookbook) Code examples & recipes
Note: This guide is an independently compiled summary, not an official Anthropic publication. Product names,
features, and limits change over time — always confirm details on Anthropic's official docs.