What a Claude skill is and how to install one

Daria, product manager, November 2, 2026

A skill is a folder of instructions that Claude Code picks up for a specific task. Inside is a SKILL.md file that says when the skill applies and what to do step by step. Next to it there can be scripts, templates and reference notes that Claude opens while it works.

Why skills are useful

Without a skill, Claude solves each task from scratch, and the result depends on how you phrased the request. A skill pins down an approach that worked: which steps, which checks, which writing rules. For example, I have a skill that runs any text through a check for stock phrases before it says "done". I never call it by name. Claude sees that the task fits and uses it.

What a skill is made of

my-skill/
  SKILL.md        description and instructions
  scripts/        scripts Claude runs
  references/     notes Claude reads when needed

SKILL.md starts with a short block with a name and a description. Claude reads the description to decide whether the skill fits the task, so write it in the words you would use to ask for that task.

---
name: my-skill
description: What the skill does and when to use it.
---

Step by step instructions follow.

How to install a skill in Claude Code

1. Unpack the skill archive.
2. Put the skill folder into ~/.claude/skills/. SKILL.md must sit directly inside that folder.
3. Restart Claude Code.
4. Check it: ask Claude to use the skill by name, or describe the task it was made for.

The easiest way is not to move files by hand at all: open Claude Code in the folder with the archive and ask it to install the skill. It unpacks the archive and puts the files where they belong.

Common mistakes

• An extra nested folder. After unpacking you get skills/my-skill/my-skill/SKILL.md, and Claude does not see the skill.
• A vague description. If the description is generic, Claude cannot tell when to use the skill.
• Secrets inside the skill. Keep keys and tokens out of the skill folder if you plan to share it. They belong in a separate settings file.

Example: a job search skill

Offer Agent is built as a Claude Code skill plus a bot and scheduled tasks. After installation Claude sets up the bot on your server. The bot collects openings on hh.ru, writes letters based on your sample, applies, bumps your resume every day and tracks applications in Google Sheets and Telegram. Claude can also translate the bot into your language during setup.