How do I see all slash commands in Claude Code?

Type /help inside a session — it lists every command your installed version supports, including any custom ones. The set evolves with releases, so /help beats any blog post (including this one) for completeness; what a post can add is which ones deserve muscle memory.

Is there a slash command to run Claude Code in the background?

Yes — /background (alias /bg) detaches the current session to keep working as a background agent and returns your terminal; /tasks lists in-session background work. What no command does is notify you when the detached agent needs a decision — that part needs hooks or an overlay layer on top.

Guide

Claude Code slash commands: the ones that actually matter

Q: What does /compact do and when should I run it?

It summarizes the conversation so far and continues with the compressed version, freeing context space. Run it at natural checkpoints — after a subtask lands, before pointing the agent at a new area. Long unscoped sessions that never compact are the top burner of both context quality and usage limits.

Q: Can I create my own slash commands?

Yes. Drop a Markdown file into .claude/commands/ (project) or ~/.claude/commands/ (user) — the filename becomes the command, the file body becomes the prompt, and $ARGUMENTS interpolates whatever you type after it. Teams commit the project folder so everyone shares the same /deploy-checklist or /write-tests.

Andrew Mercer July 23, 2026 · 7 min read

Claude Code slash commands: the ones that actually matter

Every Claude Code release adds commands, and /help will always be the authoritative list for the version you're running. This is the other thing you need: the shortlist that deserves muscle memory, grouped by what it does for you — with the honest note on where each one stops.

Session hygiene: `/compact`, `/clear`, `/resume`

/compact — summarizes the session so far and continues with the compressed context. The single most underused command: run it at checkpoints and the agent stays sharp for hours instead of drowning in its own history. It's also the cheapest fix for burning your usage limits, since re-sent context is what eats them.
/clear — the hard reset. New task, unrelated to the last one? Clear beats compact: stale context misleads more than it helps.
/resume — reopens a previous session with its history. Yesterday's half-finished refactor is a command away, not a re-explanation away.

Setup and control: `/model`, `/init`, `/permissions`, `/mcp`

/model — switch models mid-session. The practical routing move given what frontier tokens cost: cheap model for the grind, escalate for the hard part, drop back down.
/init — generates a starter CLAUDE.md by scanning the repo. Good skeleton, generic result — tighten it by hand or with our CLAUDE.md generator, because the context file is the highest-leverage file in the repo.
/permissions — inspect and edit what the agent may do without asking. Worth opening once just to see what you've accumulated; the principled version of this is a pre-approval policy, not a pile of one-off "always allow" clicks.
/mcp — manage MCP servers: see what's connected, authenticate, debug why a tool isn't showing up.

Doing the work: `/review`, `/background`, `/tasks`, `/agents`

/review — a code review of your diff or PR from inside the session. One model reviewing its own homework has a blind spot, though — for diffs that matter, a second reviewer from a different lab is the fix.
/background (alias /bg) — detaches the session to keep working as a background agent and hands back your terminal; claude --bg starts detached from the outset. The full story — including what it deliberately doesn't do — is in running Claude Code in the background.
/tasks — lists what's running in the background of the current session. The glanceable companion to /background.
/agents — define and manage subagents: focused workers with their own fresh context the main session can fan work out to.

The meta set: `/help`, `/status`, `/cost`, `/doctor`

/help is the real index. /status shows account, model, and where you stand against limits before the lockout surprises you. /cost keeps API spending visible per session. /doctor diagnoses a broken install before you reinstall anything.

Write your own: custom commands

The underrated feature hiding in plain sight: any Markdown file in .claude/commands/ becomes a slash command — filename is the command, body is the prompt, $ARGUMENTS takes what you type after it.

# .claude/commands/write-tests.md
Write unit tests for $ARGUMENTS. Match the existing test style,
cover the edge cases, and run the suite to confirm green.

Commit the folder and the whole team gets the same /write-tests. Repeated prompts are process; process belongs in the repo.

Frequently asked questions

How do I see all slash commands?

Type /help in a session — it lists everything your version supports, including custom commands. The set changes with releases; /help is always current.

What does /compact do and when should I run it?

Summarizes the session and continues compressed. Run at checkpoints — after a subtask, before a new area. It keeps context sharp and is the cheapest way to stretch usage limits.

Can I create my own slash commands?

Yes — Markdown files in .claude/commands/ (project) or ~/.claude/commands/ (user); $ARGUMENTS interpolates your input. Commit the project folder to share with the team.

Is there a command to run Claude Code in the background?

Yes — /background (/bg) detaches the session; /tasks lists background work. Getting notified when the detached agent needs you is the part commands don't cover — that's hooks, or an overlay.

Where Backgrind fits

Slash commands run the session; Backgrind runs the day. It wraps your real claude CLI in an always-on-top overlay — every command above works untouched — and adds the layer commands can't: ambient pings when any session needs a decision, inline approve from the toast, tabs for multiple agents, and your phone as the answer button when the chime catches you in the kitchen. Type /bg; let the overlay handle the part after.