Claude basics

Claude is the AI assistant made by Anthropic. In this lesson you'll learn your way around it: chats, files, Projects, Artifacts, and styles.

What is Claude?

If ChatGPT is a fast helper at a desk, Claude is like a careful editor. It reads long documents closely and writes in a clear, natural voice. It's also a strong coder. Later in the course, you'll meet Claude Code, a version of Claude that works on your project files.

• Claude is both the app and the family of models inside it.
• You can use it on the web at claude.ai, on desktop, or on your phone.
• It can read files, build small apps, and work inside projects.

A quick tour of the interface

Log in at claude.ai. The layout will feel familiar:

• The sidebar lists your chats and projects. Click New chat to start fresh.
• The message box is where you type. The + button next to it lets you add files and tools.
• The model picker sits near the message box. The default model is a good choice for most tasks.

Try a first prompt:

I'm a beginner learning to build apps with AI. In 5 short bullet points, tell me what you're especially good at, with one example each.

Uploading files

Click the + button and pick a file, or drag it into the chat. Claude can read PDFs, Word documents, text files, spreadsheets, and images.

I've uploaded a job description. Summarize it in 3 parts: the role in one sentence, the 5 most important skills, and any must-have qualifications.

Long documents like this are one of Claude's strengths. It reads closely and keeps the important details.

Projects and project knowledge

A Claude Project is like a binder for one job. You put reference papers in the front pocket, and every chat in the binder can read them. Those papers are called project knowledge.

• Create a project from the sidebar and give it a clear name, like "Recipe app".
• Add files to its project knowledge, like your app plan or sample data.
• Add project instructions: short rules Claude follows in every chat in that project.

I'm a beginner building a small recipe app. I don't code.
Use simple English and short steps.
When you build the app, use an artifact and keep it to one file.

Artifacts

An artifact is a piece of content Claude creates in a side panel, next to the chat. It might be a document, a diagram, a web page, or a small interactive app. You can click and use the app right there.

• Artifacts update when you ask for changes, and keep earlier versions.
• You can copy, download, or publish an artifact to share it with a link.
• You'll learn to build and share apps with artifacts on the next page.

Create an artifact: a simple interactive checklist for "things to prepare before a job interview". I should be able to tick items off.

If you don't see the artifact panel open, check that artifacts are turned on in Settings.

Styles

Styles change how Claude writes, like asking a friend to "keep it short" or "explain like I'm new". You can pick a preset style, such as concise or explanatory, or create your own from a writing sample. Look for the style option in the + or tools menu.

Where Claude shines

• Writing and editing. Clear, natural text that's easy to adjust.
• Long documents. It can read long files in one go, thanks to a large context window.
• Careful reasoning. It explains its thinking and follows detailed instructions well.
• Coding. Great for building apps, both in artifacts and with Claude Code.

Common mistakes

Repeating the same background in every chat

Wrong: Pasting your full app plan into every new chat.
Right: Put the plan in project knowledge once. Every chat can read it.

Uploading files with private details

Wrong: Uploading your real resume with phone number and home address.
Right: Replace them with placeholders like [Phone] and [City] first.

• Forgetting to ask for an artifact. Say "create an artifact" or "build this as an interactive app".
• Writing project instructions that are too long. Keep them to a few clear lines.

What's next?

You're ready to use Claude. Next, you'll use Projects and Artifacts to build and share a small app inside Claude.