Claude Code CLI Shortcuts

A quick reference for keyboard shortcuts, input prefixes, and slash commands in the Claude Code CLI.

Keyboard shortcuts

Key	Description
Esc	Interrupt Claude mid-response
Esc Esc	Rewind and edit an earlier message
Shift + Tab	Cycle permission modes (normal / auto-accept / plan)
Tab	Autocomplete file paths and commands
↑ / ↓	Navigate input history
Ctrl + C	Cancel current input or request
Ctrl + D	Exit the session
\ + Enter	Insert a newline (Option+Enter in some terminals)

Input prefixes

The first character of your message switches how Claude interprets it.

Prefix	Behavior
/	Run a slash command
!	Run a shell command in-session; output lands in the conversation
#	Append the content to memory (CLAUDE.md)
@	Reference a file or directory (with autocomplete)

Slash commands

The ones worth memorizing for everyday use.

Command	Use
/help	Show help
/clear	Clear the conversation context
/compact	Compact the conversation to save context
/cost	Show token usage and cost
/model	Switch models
/exit	Exit the session

Extra info

| Command | Use | | --- | --- | | `/config` | Open settings |

Notes

• Plan mode (via Shift+Tab) restricts Claude to designing without writing files — useful for reviewing an approach before committing.
• Double-Esc discards subsequent turns; prefer /compact when you want to keep context but shrink it.
• Keybindings are customizable in ~/.claude/keybindings.json.