Claude Code Context Management: How to Get Better Results
Fix inconsistent Claude Code results with proper context management. Learn when to use /clear, /compact, and session handoffs for better AI output.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Claude Code give inconsistent results?
Claude Code's performance degrades as its context window fills up—starting around 20-40% capacity, not at 100%. Long sessions accumulate noise from previous tasks, causing Claude to lose focus on your current work. The solution is proactive context management: clearing sessions regularly and starting fresh.
What is context window degradation?
Context window degradation is the gradual decline in AI output quality as the conversation history grows. As Claude's context fills with previous exchanges, it becomes harder to focus on what matters. Performance starts declining at 20-40% capacity—don't wait until you see warnings.
How do I clear context in Claude Code?
Use /clear to completely clear your context and start fresh. Use /compact to condense your conversation while preserving important context. Get a handoff summary before clearing to capture what Claude has learned, then paste it into your fresh session.
When should I start a new Claude Code session?
Start a new session when switching tasks, after completing a major milestone, when Claude starts giving inconsistent results, or proactively every few hours for long work. One session per task is the ideal pattern.
What is a handoff summary in Claude Code?
A handoff summary is a condensed capture of everything Claude has learned in a session—project context, decisions made, current state, and next steps. Ask Claude to create one before clearing context, then paste it into your fresh session to maintain continuity without the noise.
What is Claude Code context management?
Context management is the practice of actively controlling what's in Claude Code's memory (context window) to maintain peak performance. It includes knowing when to clear sessions, how to preserve important decisions via handoff summaries, and using external memory files like SCRATCHPAD.md. Without proper context management, Claude's output quality degrades silently as conversations grow longer.
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