Hook Development for Claude Code FAQs

Question 1

What are Claude Code hooks?

Accepted Answer

Hooks are event-driven scripts or prompts that execute in response to specific Claude Code actions, such as calling a tool, starting a session, or finishing a task.

Question 2

How can I block dangerous commands using hooks?

Accepted Answer

You can use the PreToolUse hook to inspect the tool name and input. If the hook returns a 'deny' decision or exits with code 2, the command will be blocked before execution.

Question 3

When should I use a prompt-based hook versus a command hook?

Accepted Answer

Use prompt-based hooks for complex reasoning and context-aware decisions using natural language. Use command hooks for fast, deterministic tasks like file system operations or running bash scripts.

Question 4

Can hooks persist environment variables?

Accepted Answer

Yes, during the SessionStart event, you can append export commands to the $CLAUDE_ENV_FILE to persist variables throughout the entire Claude Code session.

Question 5

What is the difference between plugin hooks and settings hooks?

Accepted Answer

Plugin hooks are defined in a hooks.json file with a 'hooks' wrapper for distribution, while user settings hooks are placed directly at the top level of the .claude/settings.json file.

Hook Development for Claude Code

Key Features

Use Cases

Hook Development for Claude Code

Key Features

Use Cases