How to use /clear command effectively

Reading time: 3 minQuick Tutorial

Master context management for cost optimization with Claude Code's /clear command.

Understanding the /clear Command

The /clear command is one of Claude Code's most important utilities for managing context and optimizing token usage. When used correctly, it can significantly reduce costs and improve performance.

What the /clear Command Does

The /clear command removes the conversation history from Claude's current context, while preserving:

  • Current file context
  • Project structure information
  • Configuration settings
  • Active tools and capabilities

When to Use /clear

  • When switching to a completely new task
  • After completing a major feature or bug fix
  • When experiencing slow response times
  • When token usage warnings appear
  • Before starting performance-intensive operations

Cost Optimization Strategies

Implement these strategies to maximize efficiency and minimize costs:

Strategy 1: Task-Based Clearing

Clear context between distinct tasks to prevent context bloat:

# After finishing feature implementation
claude "Great work on the authentication system!"

# Before starting a new task
claude /clear

# Start fresh with new task
claude "Let's implement the user profile page now"

Strategy 2: Scheduled Clearing

Implement regular clearing intervals for long coding sessions:

  • Clear every hour for intensive coding sessions
  • Clear after every 3-5 significant code changes
  • Clear before and after debugging sessions

Strategy 3: Strategic Summarization

Before clearing, ask Claude to summarize key insights:

# Before clearing, ask for a summary
claude "Summarize what we've learned so far about the authentication bug"

# Save the summary (if needed)
# Then clear
claude /clear

# Reference the summary in new context
claude "Based on our findings about the authentication bug, let's implement a fix"

Advanced Techniques

Master these advanced techniques for optimal context management:

Selective Context Refreshing

Clear and then selectively reload only the most relevant context:

# Clear everything
claude /clear

# Reload only the specific files needed
claude "Please analyze src/auth/validator.js and src/auth/tokens.js"

Using CLAUDE.md for Context Persistence

Combine /clear with CLAUDE.md files for efficient context management:

  1. Document important project insights in CLAUDE.md
  2. Use /clear frequently to reset conversation history
  3. Claude will still retain knowledge from CLAUDE.md
  4. Update CLAUDE.md with new insights as you work

Related Tutorials

Explore these related tutorials to further optimize your Claude Code workflow: