Claude Code

What is Claude Code?

Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in the terminal, IDEs and the web to edit code, run commands and handle git workflows using Claude models. It reads your codebase and carries out multi-step tasks you describe in natural language.

Key capabilities of Claude Code

• Codebase-wide editing: Reads and changes many files in a project.
• Command and test execution: Runs shell commands and tests, then reacts to results.
• Git and PR automation: Commits, branches and prepares pull requests.
• Multi-step planning: Breaks larger tasks into steps.
• MCP tool use: Connects to external tools through Model Context Protocol.

How Claude Code works

You run Claude Code in a project directory and describe a goal. It explores the code, proposes a plan, edits files and runs commands, asking permission for actions depending on your settings. Usage counts against your Claude plan, with limits that reset on a rolling five-hour window, or against API pay-as-you-go billing.

Who uses Claude Code?

Professional developers, teams and enterprises use it to delegate refactors, bug fixes, tests and migrations. Organizations can route usage through Bedrock or Vertex AI for existing cloud agreements.

Claude Code pricing

All paid Claude plans include Claude Code. Pro is $20 per month ($17 billed annually), Max starts at $100 per month with 5x or 20x Pro usage, and Team and Enterprise plans are available. API usage is billed per token.

Claude Code alternatives

GitHub Copilot's agent mode works inside editors, Cursor is an AI-native editor with agents, and Aider is an open-source terminal tool. Claude Code is a terminal-first agent from the model maker.