What are Claude skills?
A Claude skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file - YAML frontmatter plus instructions - that teaches Claude how to do a specific task in a repeatable way. Claude reads the short description to decide when a skill is relevant, then loads its full instructions on demand. Skills can also include supporting files and scripts.
“Skill” is one of those words that sounds more complicated than it is. A Claude skill is just a folder with a Markdown file in it. But that simple idea is what makes Claude reliably good at a specific task instead of improvising every time.
The short version
A skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file. That file has two parts:
- Frontmatter - YAML at the top with, at minimum, a
nameand adescription. - Instructions - the actual guidance Claude should follow for this task.
It can also include extra files (reference docs, examples) and scripts the skill can run.
How Claude decides to use a skill
This is the part people miss. Claude does not load every skill into every conversation. Instead, it reads each skill’s description and uses it to decide when that skill is relevant to what you are asking. When it is, Claude pulls in the full instructions; when it is not, the skill stays out of the way.
That is why a good description matters so much - it is the trigger. A skill with vague wording may simply never fire.
Why skills beat re-typing a prompt
You could paste the same detailed instructions into chat every time. A skill saves you from that:
- It loads automatically when relevant, across every session and project.
- It can bundle reference files and scripts, not just text.
- It can be shared - committed to a repo so a whole team gets the same behavior.
In other words, a skill turns a one-off prompt into a repeatable, shareable capability.
Skills, plugins, and MCP - quick distinctions
These terms get mixed up constantly:
- A skill is a single capability defined by a
SKILL.md. - A plugin bundles several things - often skills plus slash commands and hooks - installed through Claude Code’s plugin system.
- An MCP server is different again: it connects Claude to external tools and data over the Model Context Protocol. We cover the distinction in Claude skills vs MCP servers.
Where to go next
If you want to try one, see how to install a skill and where skills are stored. Or browse the graded directory and start with something rated A.
Frequently asked
How is a skill different from just a good prompt?
A prompt is something you type each time. A skill is saved once and loaded automatically when relevant, so the knowledge is reusable across sessions and projects without you re-explaining it. It can also bundle reference files and scripts a prompt cannot.
What is in a SKILL.md file?
YAML frontmatter with at least a name and a description, followed by the instructions. The description is critical - Claude uses it to decide when the skill applies.
Are skills the same as plugins?
No. A skill is a single capability. A plugin bundles several things together - often skills plus slash commands and hooks - and is installed through Claude Code's plugin system.