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:

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