Maximizing the value of your Claude Code sessions
Anthropic's guide on optimizing Claude Code sessions focuses on token efficiency through session hygiene: running `/clear` between tasks prevents context bleed, setting model/effort level upfront avoids prompt cache busting, and using `@-mention` for files reduces API calls. Key commands like `/context` reveal loaded artifacts (CLAUDE.md, MCP tools) to trim unnecessary overhead, while `/compact` before idle periods leverages the one-hour prompt cache window to cheaply summarize conversations. The post frames token cost as a function of model size, input vs. output phase, and cache state, urging developers to align model choice with task complexity and avoid dragging stale context across turns.