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To know whether Claude Code did what you asked, check the result—not just its message that the task is finished. Set one observable success condition, agree on the scope, run a relevant check, inspect the changes, and make the final status name what was and was not verified.
Anthropic describes Claude Code as an agent that reads files, runs commands, and makes multi-file edits in response to a task. Those capabilities can save work, but a completion message is not itself evidence that the requested outcome is correct. Anthropic’s guidance identifies verification as the most impactful practice for checking output. The five rules below turn that idea into a practical routine; they are editorial recommendations, not an official Anthropic checklist. (Claude Code overview; Best practices)
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1. Define what “done” means before Claude Code edits
Give the task an observable acceptance check. Without one, “done” can mean only that Claude Code made a change or reached the end of its work—not that the change meets your need.
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- For a content or layout change: Describe what should appear and where, then identify a concrete way to inspect it.
- For a bug fix: Describe how to reproduce the issue and what should happen after the fix.
Ask yourself: “What could I observe that would show this request was met?” Choose a check that addresses that condition, rather than accepting a vague claim that the change “looks good.” Anthropic recommends checking output; choosing a specific acceptance condition is a way to make that check useful for your task. (Anthropic’s verification guidance; Common workflows)
2. Agree on the plan and scope before edits
For a change that spans several files—or one you find difficult to inspect—ask Claude Code to explain its plan and expected files before it makes changes. This gives you a chance to catch a misunderstanding while the work is still only a proposal.
Claude Code’s plan mode is described by Anthropic as read-only: it proposes a plan and waits for approval before implementation. Anthropic’s use-case guidance says the plan can identify files and proposed changes. Modes and permissions are configurable, however, so check what is available in your session rather than assuming every setup behaves the same way. (Claude Code FAQ; Common workflows; Permissions)
Before approving, compare the proposed scope with your request. Ask why a seemingly unrelated file needs to change, or whether a simpler change would meet the acceptance condition. A plan is useful for setting expectations; it does not prove the finished work is correct.
3. Require the relevant check to run—and get its exact result
After the edits, ask Claude Code to run the agreed test or other check and report exactly what happened. Anthropic’s workflow examples include rerunning a test suite to confirm a proposed fix. (Common workflows)
Keep three claims separate:
- The command ran: An attempt was made. This alone does not say whether it succeeded.
- The check passed: The particular test or check reported success.
- The requested outcome is correct: The change actually meets your acceptance condition.
A passing test is evidence about what that test covers; it is not proof that every requirement was tested. If a check fails, ask for the failure output and an explanation before deciding what to do next. If Claude Code cannot run the check, the work remains unverified by that check—ask it to say why rather than treating an unrun test as a pass.
4. Inspect the changed files, not just the explanation
Ask which files changed and what changed in each, then review the diff—the line-by-line record of changes—against your original request and acceptance condition. Anthropic describes the end of an issue workflow as a reviewable diff with context needed to close the ticket. (Common workflows)
- Check that the change is within the scope you approved.
- Look for edits that seem unrelated to the request.
- Confirm that the diff supports the behavior or result you specified.
- If you cannot interpret a change, ask Claude Code to explain it in plain language before accepting it.
A summary can help you navigate the changes, but it is narration, not a substitute for inspecting the artifact. If you are unsure how to read a diff, ask for a file-by-file explanation and compare it with the actual changes shown in your editor or version-control view.
5. Make the final status evidence-based
Ask for a short closeout that reports the requested outcome, changed files, checks run and their exact results, and anything not checked. This makes it easier to tell a verified result from a partial attempt.
Best Value
A useful prompt is:
Before changing anything, tell me the plan and which files you expect to change. Afterward, show the diff, run the agreed check, and report the exact result. If you cannot run it, say “not verified” and explain why.
This is suggested wording, not an official Anthropic prompt. Add your acceptance condition to the request so the final report can address it directly. If something remains unchecked, the closeout should identify it plainly rather than implying that the entire task has been confirmed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When a prompt is not enough: instructions, permissions, and hooks
A request tells Claude Code what you expect; it does not guarantee that a check will run or that a particular action will be blocked. Anthropic warns that instructions can fail under pressure or ambiguity and documents permissions and hooks as ways to enforce controls more deterministically. (Settings and permissions; Hooks)
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Control | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt and project instructions | Tell Claude Code what the task requires and what to report. | Did it follow the request and provide evidence you can check? |
| Permission rules and hooks | Configured controls can restrict or block actions; hooks can run deterministic checks. | Is the control configured and active, and did it report a result? |
Hooks are an advanced, optional control—not a necessary setup step for every non-coder. Anthropic documents a PreToolUse hook that can inspect a tool call and block it by exiting with code 2; the hook guide says this also passes stderr feedback. A hook only protects the workflow if it is configured for the relevant action and active in that environment. (Anthropic’s hooks guide)
Recovering from a mistaken change is different from verifying it
Anthropic documents automatic checkpoints at each prompt and the /rewind command for returning to an earlier checkpoint. For work that has already been committed, its FAQ directs users to normal git revert. These are recovery options; restoring an earlier state does not establish that a task passed its acceptance checks. Availability can vary by Claude Code version or organizational policy, so check what is enabled in the session you are using. (Claude Code FAQ; Best practices)
Quick Recap
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