Keep Your Context Window Clean

Claude Code has a large context window, but it's not infinite. A few habits will keep it working efficiently.

Instead of reading 20 files yourself, let a subagent do the research in a separate context:

"Search the codebase for how authentication is implemented"

Claude will spawn an Explore agent that reads files in its own context, then returns a summary — keeping your main window clean.

Be specific about what you need. Instead of "Look at the User model", try:

"What validation rules does the User model use for email?"

Use /clear or start a new session when switching to unrelated work. A conversation about database migrations doesn't need the context from your CSS refactor.

You can also create a .claudeignore file to exclude directories Claude doesn't need to read:

node_modules/
vendor/
storage/
.git/
public/build/

The key principle: a focused context gives better answers than a cluttered one.