Clear, Compact, and Rewind

Context is the resource you manage in Claude Code.

Use session tools deliberately instead of letting every question, correction, and failed attempt stay in the same working memory.

/clear

Use /clear between unrelated tasks.

/clear

This starts a fresh context. It is often better than dragging a previous task’s assumptions into a new one.

/compact

Use /compact during long-running work when you want to preserve the important parts and reduce noise.

/compact Focus on modified files, decisions made, failing tests, and next steps.

Add compaction preferences to CLAUDE.md if you want the same information preserved every time.

/rewind

Use /rewind or double Esc when a session goes down the wrong path.

Rewind can restore conversation, code, or both from a previous checkpoint. It is not a replacement for git, but it is useful while exploring.

Practical rule

If you have corrected the same issue more than twice, clear or rewind. Start again with a sharper prompt that includes what you learned.