creating-agent-skills

Structure YAML frontmatter for Claude skills by including required name and description fields, alongside optional allowed-tools or model fields. This standard metadata ensures the skill is correctly parsed, categorized, and discoverable by the system.

Write a Claude Code skill using pure XML tags for all body content to maximize parseability and token efficiency. Start with a minimal SKILL.md file containing the YAML frontmatter and a small XML body, then gradually expand.

Progressive disclosure in skill authoring is the practice of dividing skill content into references, workflows, and scripts. This pattern ensures Claude loads context on demand rather than all at once, optimizing performance and token usage.

Use a router pattern for skill design when creating complex skills that require routing logic to select specific workflows. This pattern is ideal for managing multiple distinct processes within a single, maintainable skill architecture.

Common anti-patterns to avoid when creating Claude skills include mixing non-XML content into the body, overloading context upfront, and omitting required YAML frontmatter. Adhering to pure XML discipline and progressive disclosure prevents these structural pitfalls.

Start creating a minimal Claude skill by defining a SKILL.md file with basic YAML frontmatter and a small XML body. Gradually add references, workflows, examples, and scripts as the complexity of your skill requirements grows.