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Nearest release: v2.1.283, published 4 hours before upstream edited the page. Shown because the two are within 24 hours of each other. Nothing here says the release caused the edit.

Upstream edited this page at 25 Sep 2026 23:24 UTC, give or take a minute or two: the time comes from Anthropic’s own sitemap rather than from a commit. This site recorded the change at 28 Sep 2026 23:37 UTC.

Upstream edited 25 Sep 2026 23:24 UTC

Recorded here 28 Sep 2026 23:37 UTC

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First seen 14 Aug 2026 this site's first read of the page

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14431443The explorer covers files you author and edit. A few related files live elsewhere:

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1445| File | Location | Purpose |

1446| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

1447| `managed-settings.json` | System-level, varies by OS | Enterprise-enforced settings that you can't override, apart from [narrow exceptions](/docs/en/settings#security-keys-where-the-stricter-value-applies). See [where to save the file](/docs/en/managed-settings#deploy-a-managed-settings-file) and [which managed source Claude Code uses](/docs/en/managed-settings#precedence-within-the-managed-tier). |

1448| `CLAUDE.local.md` | Project root | Your private preferences for this project, loaded alongside CLAUDE.md. Create it manually and add it to `.gitignore`. |

1449| `AGENTS.md` | Project root, `.claude/`, or any directory | Project instructions you write for AI coding agents. Claude Code can [load it](/docs/en/memory#agents-md) on its own or alongside `CLAUDE.md`. |

1450| Installed plugins | `~/.claude/plugins` | Cloned marketplaces, installed plugin versions, the `installed_plugins.json` install record, and per-plugin data, managed by `claude plugin` commands. Plugins [synced from your claude.ai account](/docs/en/plugins/loading#synced-plugins) download into `~/.claude/plugins/synced/`. For a plugin installed from a marketplace [`command` source](/docs/en/plugins/marketplace-reference#command-plugin-source) in link mode, Claude Code stores links here instead of a copy, and the plugin's files stay in the directory the command prints. A `command` source requires Claude Code v2.1.229 or later. A plugin listed by relative path in a local-directory marketplace also [loads in place](/docs/en/plugins/loading#find-plugins-on-disk) from its source directory rather than from a cache copy. See [plugin caching](/docs/en/plugins/loading#find-plugins-on-disk) for how orphaned versions are cleaned up. |

1445| File | Location | Purpose |

1446| - | - | - |

1448| `CLAUDE.local.md` | Project root | Your private preferences for this project, loaded alongside CLAUDE.md. Create it manually and add it to `.gitignore`. |

14511451

14521452`~/.claude` also holds data Claude Code writes as you work: transcripts, prompt history, file snapshots, caches, and logs. See [application data](#application-data) below.

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14561456Different kinds of customization live in different files. Use this table to find where a change belongs.

14571457

1459| :------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------- | :---------------- | :-------------------------------------------------- |

1466| Define a specialized subagent with its own tools | `agents/*.md` | project or global | [Subagents](/docs/en/sub-agents) |

1467| Orchestrate many subagents from a script | `workflows/*.js` | project or global | [Dynamic workflows](/docs/en/workflows) |

1469| Change how Claude formats responses | `output-styles/*.md` | project or global | [Output styles](/docs/en/output-styles) |

1459| :- | :- | :- | :- |

1466| Define a specialized subagent with its own tools | `agents/*.md` | project or global | [Subagents](/docs/en/sub-agents) |

1467| Orchestrate many subagents from a script | `workflows/*.js` | project or global | [Dynamic workflows](/docs/en/workflows) |

1469| Change how Claude formats responses | `output-styles/*.md` | project or global | [Output styles](/docs/en/output-styles) |

14701470

14711471## File reference

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14851485Click a filename to open that node in the explorer above.

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1488| --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |

1490| [`rules/*.md`](#ce-rules) | Project and global | ✓ | Topic-scoped instructions, optionally path-gated | [Rules](/docs/en/memory#organize-rules-with-claude/rules/) |

1496| [`commands/*.md`](#ce-commands) | Project and global | ✓ | Single-file prompts; same mechanism as skills | [Skills](/docs/en/skills) |

1497| [`output-styles/*.md`](#ce-output-styles) | Project and global | ✓ | Custom instruction sets that adjust how Claude works | [Output styles](/docs/en/output-styles) |

1498| [`agents/*.md`](#ce-agents) | Project and global | ✓ | Subagent definitions with their own prompt and tools | [Subagents](/docs/en/sub-agents) |

1499| [`workflows/*.js`](#ce-workflows) | Project and global | ✓ | Dynamic workflow scripts written by Claude and saved from `/workflows`; each file becomes a `/<name>` command | [Dynamic workflows](/docs/en/workflows) |

1504| [`themes/*.json`](#ce-themes) | Global only | | Custom color themes | [Custom themes](/docs/en/terminal-config#create-a-custom-theme) |

1488| - | - | - | - | - |

1490| [`rules/*.md`](#ce-rules) | Project and global | ✓ | Topic-scoped instructions, optionally path-gated | [Rules](/docs/en/memory#organize-rules-with-claude/rules/) |

1496| [`commands/*.md`](#ce-commands) | Project and global | ✓ | Single-file prompts; same mechanism as skills | [Skills](/docs/en/skills) |

1497| [`output-styles/*.md`](#ce-output-styles) | Project and global | ✓ | Custom instruction sets that adjust how Claude works | [Output styles](/docs/en/output-styles) |

1498| [`agents/*.md`](#ce-agents) | Project and global | ✓ | Subagent definitions with their own prompt and tools | [Subagents](/docs/en/sub-agents) |

1504| [`themes/*.json`](#ce-themes) | Global only | | Custom color themes | [Custom themes](/docs/en/terminal-config#create-a-custom-theme) |

15051505

15061506## Frontmatter fields by file

15071507

15081508Skills, command files, subagents, output styles, and rules read their configuration from YAML [frontmatter](/docs/en/glossary#frontmatter) at the top of the file, and each accepts its own set of fields. This table lists the field names for each file and links to the reference that describes them.

15091509

1510| File | Frontmatter fields | Reference |

1511| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |

1512| `skills/<name>/SKILL.md` | `name`, `description`, `when_to_use`, `argument-hint`, `arguments`, `disable-model-invocation`, `user-invocable`, `allowed-tools`, `disallowed-tools`, `model`, `effort`, `context`, `agent`, `background`, `hooks`, `paths`, `shell`, `metadata`, `license`, `compatibility` | [Skill frontmatter](/docs/en/skills#frontmatter-reference) |

1513| `commands/*.md` | The skill fields except `name` and `paths` | [Skill frontmatter](/docs/en/skills#frontmatter-reference) |

1514| `agents/*.md` | `name`, `description`, `tools`, `disallowedTools`, `model`, `permissionMode`, `maxTurns`, `skills`, `mcpServers`, `hooks`, `memory`, `background`, `effort`, `isolation`, `color`, `initialPrompt`, `omitClaudeMd`, `experimental` | [Subagent frontmatter](/docs/en/sub-agents#supported-frontmatter-fields) |

1515| `output-styles/*.md` | `name`, `description`, `keep-coding-instructions`, `force-for-plugin` | [Output style frontmatter](/docs/en/output-styles#frontmatter) |

1516| `rules/*.md` | `paths` | [Rule frontmatter](/docs/en/memory#rules-frontmatter-reference) |

1510| File | Frontmatter fields | Reference |

1511| - | - | - |

1513| `commands/*.md` | The skill fields except `name` and `paths` | [Skill frontmatter](/docs/en/skills#frontmatter-reference) |

1515| `output-styles/*.md` | `name`, `description`, `keep-coding-instructions`, `force-for-plugin` | [Output style frontmatter](/docs/en/output-styles#frontmatter) |

1516| `rules/*.md` | `paths` | [Rule frontmatter](/docs/en/memory#rules-frontmatter-reference) |

15171517

15181518Agents shipped in a [plugin](/docs/en/plugins/components#agents) honor a subset of the subagent fields.

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15301530Claude Code deletes the files in the paths below once they're older than [`cleanupPeriodDays`](/docs/en/settings-reference#cleanupperioddays), as long as it can safely determine the retention period. The default is 30 days and the minimum is 1; setting `0` fails with a validation error. The same age cutoff applies to automatic removal of [orphaned worktrees](/docs/en/worktrees#clean-up-subagent-and-background-session-worktrees).

15311531

1532| Path under `~/.claude/` | Contents |

1533| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

1534| `projects/<project>/<session>.jsonl` | Full conversation transcript: every message, tool call, and tool result |

1535| `projects/<project>/<session>.orphaned-<timestamp>-<suffix>.jsonl`, `projects/<project>/<session>.jsonl.superseded-<timestamp>` | A previous transcript for the session that Claude Code set aside instead of overwriting or deleting it. It doesn't appear in the session picker |

1536| `projects/<project>/<session>/subagents/` | [Subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents) conversation transcripts, removed with the parent session transcript when it ages out |

1537| `projects/<project>/<session>/tool-results/` | Large tool outputs spilled to separate files, and full-size copies of [images that MCP tools return](/docs/en/mcp#images-in-tool-results) |

1538| `file-history/<session>/` | Pre-edit snapshots of files Claude changed, used for [checkpoint restore](/docs/en/checkpointing). Holds snapshots for the 100 most recent checkpoints; snapshot files that no retained checkpoint references are deleted, except each file's first snapshot |

1539| `plans/` | Plan files written during [plan mode](/docs/en/permission-modes#analyze-before-you-edit-with-plan-mode) |

1540| `debug/` | Per-session debug logs, written while debug logging is on, such as when you start with [`--debug`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) or run `/debug` |

1541| `paste-cache/` | Contents of large pastes |

1542| `image-cache/<session>/` | Attached images saved by Claude Code v2.1.274 and earlier. Later versions save pasted and attached images outside `~/.claude`, in an `images/` directory for each session under the temp directory that [`CLAUDE_CODE_TMPDIR`](/docs/en/env-vars) controls. The sweep removes other sessions' leftover directories here, whatever their age. |

1543| `uploads/<session>/` | Files you attach from the web or mobile app, and photos you attach from the mobile app, when messaging a [Remote Control](/docs/en/remote-control) session. An attachment to a [cloud session](/docs/en/claude-code-on-the-web) is saved in that session's own cloud environment instead, not on your machine. |

1544| `session-env/` | Per-session environment metadata |

1545| `tasks/` | Task lists written by the task tools, one directory per list |

1546| `shell-snapshots/` | Aliases, functions, and shell options captured at startup and applied by the [Bash tool](/docs/en/tools-reference#bash-tool-behavior) to each command. Removed on clean exit. The sweep clears any left after a crash. |

1547| `backups/` | Earlier versions of `~/.claude.json`, copied when Claude Code rewrites the file. Claude Code keeps the five newest, plus a copy of any version it couldn't parse. |

1548| `feedback-bundles/` | Redacted transcript archives written by `/feedback` on third-party providers or when no Anthropic credentials are configured, for sending to your Anthropic account team |

1549| `feedback/drafts/` | Queued [Claude-drafted feedback](/docs/en/tools-reference#sendfeedback-tool-behavior) awaiting your review in `/feedback`. Swept after `cleanupPeriodDays` or 30 days, whichever is shorter. When the queue is at its 10-draft limit, Claude Code deletes the oldest draft to make room. |

1550| `usage-data/` | `report.html` and timestamped report copies written by [`/insights`](/docs/en/costs#analyze-your-usage-patterns), plus cached per-session analysis data used to build them |

1551| `skills/.trash/`, `plugins/.trash/` | [Skills](/docs/en/skills#how-synced-skills-behave) and [plugins](/docs/en/plugins/loading#synced-plugins) that the claude.ai sync removed, such as after you turn one off on claude.ai or stop syncing. The files stay here so you can recover them until the sweep deletes them |

1552| `todos/`, `statsig/`, `logs/` | Legacy directories from older versions. No longer written. The sweep removes their contents and then the empty directory. |

1532| Path under `~/.claude/` | Contents |

1533| - | - |

1534| `projects/<project>/<session>.jsonl` | Full conversation transcript: every message, tool call, and tool result |

1536| `projects/<project>/<session>/subagents/` | [Subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents) conversation transcripts, removed with the parent session transcript when it ages out |

1537| `projects/<project>/<session>/tool-results/` | Large tool outputs spilled to separate files, and full-size copies of [images that MCP tools return](/docs/en/mcp#images-in-tool-results) |

1539| `plans/` | Plan files written during [plan mode](/docs/en/permission-modes#analyze-before-you-edit-with-plan-mode) |

1540| `debug/` | Per-session debug logs, written while debug logging is on, such as when you start with [`--debug`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) or run `/debug` |

1541| `paste-cache/` | Contents of large pastes |

1544| `session-env/` | Per-session environment metadata |

1545| `tasks/` | Task lists written by the task tools, one directory per list |

1547| `backups/` | Earlier versions of `~/.claude.json`, copied when Claude Code rewrites the file. Claude Code keeps the five newest, plus a copy of any version it couldn't parse. |

1548| `feedback-bundles/` | Redacted transcript archives written by `/feedback` on third-party providers or when no Anthropic credentials are configured, for sending to your Anthropic account team |

1550| `usage-data/` | `report.html` and timestamped report copies written by [`/insights`](/docs/en/costs#analyze-your-usage-patterns), plus cached per-session analysis data used to build them |

1552| `todos/`, `statsig/`, `logs/` | Legacy directories from older versions. No longer written. The sweep removes their contents and then the empty directory. |

15531553

15541554Session files in `sessions/`, auto memory, and Claude Desktop and Cowork transcripts each follow their own retention rule:

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15871587The retention cleanup sweep doesn't remove the paths below. Claude Code keeps them until you delete them, apart from the two caches it deletes when you log out.

15881588

1589| Path under `~/.claude/` | Contents |

1590| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

1591| `history.jsonl` | Every prompt you've typed, with timestamp and project path. Used for up-arrow recall, `Ctrl+R` history search, and `!` shell-command completion. |

1592| `stats-cache.json` | Aggregated token and cost counts shown by `/usage` |

1593| `remote-settings.json` | Cached copy of [server-managed settings](/docs/en/server-managed-settings) for your organization, or `{}` when your organization has configured none. Only present when the session [fetches them](/docs/en/server-managed-settings#platform-availability). Claude Code checks for updates at startup and hourly during a session. Claude Code deletes it when you log out. |

1594| `cache/changelog.md` | Cached copy of the Claude Code changelog, shown by `/release-notes`. Refreshed in the background. |

1595| `policy-limits.json` | Cached feature policy settings for your organization. Only present for some account types. Refreshed automatically. A `policy-limits.json.stamp.json` sidecar records which account or API key the cache belongs to. Claude Code deletes both files when you log out. |

1589| Path under `~/.claude/` | Contents |

1590| - | - |

1591| `history.jsonl` | Every prompt you've typed, with timestamp and project path. Used for up-arrow recall, `Ctrl+R` history search, and `!` shell-command completion. |

1592| `stats-cache.json` | Aggregated token and cost counts shown by `/usage` |

1594| `cache/changelog.md` | Cached copy of the Claude Code changelog, shown by `/release-notes`. Refreshed in the background. |

15961596

15971597<span id="state-files-to-keep" />

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16721672You can also delete any of the application-data paths above by hand, apart from the [state files to keep](#state-files-to-keep). New sessions are unaffected. The table below shows what you lose for past sessions.

16731673

1674| Delete | You lose |

1675| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |

1676| `~/.claude/projects/` | Resume, continue, and rewind for past sessions, and auto memory for every project |

1677| `~/.claude/history.jsonl` | Up-arrow prompt recall, `Ctrl+R` history search, and `!` shell-command completion |

1678| `~/.claude/paste-cache/` | Pasted text in recalled prompts; see [paste large content](/docs/en/terminal-config#paste-large-content) |

1679| `~/.claude/uploads/` | Attachments that past [Remote Control](/docs/en/remote-control) sessions refer to by path |

1680| `~/.claude/file-history/` | Checkpoint restore for past sessions |

1681| `~/.claude/stats-cache.json` | Historical totals shown by `/usage` |

1682| `~/.claude/usage-data/` | Past [`/insights`](/docs/en/costs#analyze-your-usage-patterns) reports and the cached analysis data used to build them |

1683| `~/.claude/feedback-bundles/` | Feedback and bug-report archives you haven't yet sent to your Anthropic account team |

1684| `~/.claude/feedback/drafts/` | [Claude-drafted feedback](/docs/en/tools-reference#sendfeedback-tool-behavior) you haven't sent |

1685| `~/.claude/remote-settings.json` | Nothing. Re-fetched on next launch. |

1686| `~/.claude/cache/changelog.md` | Nothing. Refreshed in the background. |

1687| `~/.claude/policy-limits.json` | Nothing. Refreshed automatically. |

1688| `~/.claude/tasks/` | Task lists that a resumed session would pick up |

1689| `~/.claude/skills/.trash/`, `~/.claude/plugins/.trash/` | The chance to recover [synced skills](/docs/en/skills#how-synced-skills-behave) and [synced plugins](/docs/en/plugins/loading#synced-plugins) that Claude Code removed |

1690| `~/.claude/debug/`, `~/.claude/plans/`, `~/.claude/session-env/`, `~/.claude/shell-snapshots/`, `~/.claude/backups/` | Nothing user-facing |

1691| `~/.claude/todos/`, `~/.claude/statsig/`, `~/.claude/logs/`, `~/.claude/image-cache/` | Nothing. Legacy directories not written by current versions. |

1674| Delete | You lose |

1675| - | - |