Claude skills vs slash commands
A slash command is a saved prompt you trigger by hand. A skill is a saved procedure Claude can trigger on its own.
How they differ
- Trigger. Command: you type /name. Skill: Claude matches your request to the description, and you can also invoke it by name.
- Contents. Command: a single prompt file. Skill: a folder that can include scripts, templates, and reference files.
- Reach. Commands are a Claude Code feature. Skills also work in Claude.ai and the API.
When to convert a command into a skill
If you keep forgetting to run a command, or it needs supporting files, make it a skill with a sharp description of when to use it.
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Related: What are Claude skills | How to use them | Skills vs MCP