# What is a Claude skill? > A Claude skill is a folder of instructions Claude loads only when a task needs it. How skills differ from projects and custom instructions. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/claude-skill · Updated 2026-10-14 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) [AI assistants](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary#topic-ai-assistants) · [AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) Quick answer A Claude skill is a folder of instructions, and sometimes scripts and files, that teaches Claude how to do one kind of task the same way every time. Each skill has a short name and a description. Claude reads the descriptions and opens a skill only when your request matches, so skills do not clutter every chat. Last updated October 14, 2026 Updated October 14, 2026 · By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) ## Why it matters for a small business Most people re-explain the same things to an AI again and again: how the weekly report is laid out, which colors a proposal uses, what a finished spreadsheet should look like. A skill writes that down once. Claude then applies it in any chat where the task comes up, and you stop pasting instructions. Skills sit beside two older tools. A [Claude Project](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/claude-projects) holds background knowledge that is always loaded for chats inside it. [Custom instructions](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/custom-instructions) apply to every conversation. A skill is a procedure for one task, and it loads only when needed. Claude also has built-in skills for Excel, Word, PowerPoint and PDF files, and these need [code execution](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/code-execution) switched on. ## Where a skill fits | Tool | What it holds | When Claude uses it | | --- | --- | --- | | Skill | A procedure for one kind of task | Only when your request matches its description | | Project | Background files and instructions | Always, for chats inside that project | | Custom instructions | General preferences about you and your style | In every conversation | Based on Anthropic's help center description of skills, checked in October 2026. Plans and menus change, so confirm in your own account. ## In a real lesson: Build Your Own Claude Skill with the Skill Creator: A Weekly Report Template In the [Build Your Own Claude Skill lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/build-your-own-claude-skill-with-skill-creator), Brightline Painting, a made-up painting company, turns two crews' Friday notes into a weekly job report by hand every week. The lesson has Claude's skill creator interview the owner, draft a skill from one real week of notes, and test it. The description matters most. It says to use the skill whenever a week of crew notes is pasted or a weekly report is asked for, which is how Claude knows to pick it up by itself next Friday. The skill also tells Claude to mark gaps with [CHECK] instead of guessing. [Try this lesson free](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/claude-skills-create) or [read the step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/build-your-own-claude-skill-with-skill-creator). ## Common confusions ### Skill vs project A project is a workspace with files and instructions that apply to every chat in it. A skill is a repeatable procedure that works across Claude and loads only when relevant. ### Skill vs prompt A prompt is something you type each time. A skill is a saved set of instructions Claude can reach for on its own, so you can ask for the result in one plain sentence. ## Tips - Keep each skill to one job, and write the description as when to use it. - Test it on a real example before you save it, and check the numbers it produces. - Only add skills you trust. A skill can include scripts, so treat an unknown one like unknown software. ## Related terms [Claude Projects](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/claude-projects) · [Custom instructions (ChatGPT)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/custom-instructions) · [Code execution and file creation](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/code-execution) · [System prompt (system message)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/system-prompt) · [Prompt template](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/prompt-template) ## More AI assistants terms [Condense vs Preserve](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/condense-vs-preserve) · [Conversation starters](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/conversation-starters) · [Custom GPT](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/custom-gpt) · [Deep research](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/deep-research) ## Where you use it: free lessons - [Build Your Own Claude Skill with the Skill Creator: A Weekly Report Template](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/build-your-own-claude-skill-with-skill-creator) (Claude, 8 min) - [What Are Claude Skills? Turn One On and Watch It Work](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/what-are-claude-skills) (Claude, 7 min) - [Make Every Claude Document On-Brand with a Brand Guidelines Skill](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/claude-brand-guidelines-skill) (Claude, 7 min) - [How to Install a Custom Skill in Claude (Upload a Skill .zip)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/install-a-custom-claude-skill) (Claude, 6 min) ## Prompt templates that use it [Brand skill brief prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/brand-skill-brief-prompt) · [Repeat report skill interview prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/repeat-report-skill-interview-prompt) ## Visual guide Claude skill in a few slides, with the same guide written out as text. - [5 Steps to a Claude Skill for Your Weekly Report](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/5-steps-claude-skill-weekly-report): A visual guide: Claude's skill creator interviews you, drafts a weekly report skill, tests it on real notes, saves it and uses it. [All visual guides](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual) ## Frequently asked questions **Do I have to tell Claude which skill to use?** No. When a skill is switched on and your request matches its description, Claude can use it by itself. You can also type a slash and pick it by name. **Which Claude plans have skills?** Anthropic lists Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans. Skills need code execution to be enabled, and only Team and Enterprise owners can provision them for a whole organization. **Can I write my own skill without coding?** Yes. In the lesson, Create with Claude interviews you in plain words and writes the skill for you. A simple process skill is just instructions in Markdown. [All AI glossary terms, A to Z](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) · [Free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts)