What is a Claude Code Skill?

A Claude Code Skill is a specialized capability that provides contextual guidance and implementation patterns which Claude autonomously invokes based on the task context.

How is a skill different from a command?

While commands are user-invoked (explicitly called by the human), skills are model-invoked, meaning Claude chooses to use them when it detects a relevant task.

What files are required to create a new skill?

Every skill requires at minimum a SKILL.md file located within a specific subdirectory of the 'skills/' folder.

What is the most important part of a skill definition?

The description field in the frontmatter is the most critical element, as it tells Claude exactly when and for what keywords or topics the skill should be activated.

Claude Skill Development Template

Name: Claude Skill Development Template
Author: Delqhi

byDelqhi

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Learning & Documentation

Standardizes the creation of Claude Code plugin skills by providing a reference template and implementation patterns.

This skill serves as a comprehensive framework for developers building Claude Code plugins, offering a structured approach to defining skill capabilities, frontmatter configurations, and activation triggers. By providing a clear blueprint for file hierarchies and best practices for writing model-invoked descriptions, it ensures that new skills are consistently organized and effectively utilized by the Claude AI during autonomous task execution. It is particularly useful for developers who need a reference point for creating domain-specific guidance within the Claude ecosystem.

Key Features

01Directory structure blueprints for supporting files and helper scripts

02Guidance on frontmatter configuration including name, version, and license

031 GitHub stars

04Standardized SKILL.md template for rapid plugin development

05Instructional patterns for creating actionable, model-invoked capabilities

06Best practices for writing high-performance skill activation descriptions

Use Cases

01Bootstrapping a new Claude Code plugin skill with a proven structure

02Learning the differentiation between user-invoked commands and model-invoked skills

03Refining skill trigger phrases to improve AI activation accuracy

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add delqhi/zoe-solar-accounting-ocr example-skill

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill