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Seeing Claude Code’s general verbose output is not, by itself, proof that a hook ran. Anthropic’s CLI reference says --verbose shows full turn-by-turn output and can help with debugging, but it does not establish that this output records hook invocations or confirms a hook completed. Until you have hook-specific evidence, treat a configured hook as unverified—not as confirmed execution.

Did my Claude Code hook run?

The answer depends on what you mean by “ran.” A hook can be present in configuration without being triggered; it can be invoked without completing successfully; and a completed process does not necessarily prove that it produced the intended effect. These are separate claims, and evidence for one does not automatically establish the next.

  • Configured: a hook definition exists in the configuration you are investigating.
  • Triggered: the relevant event occurred and the hook was attempted.
  • Completed: the hook process finished; evidence of its exit status or output would help establish how.
  • Effect confirmed: the expected change or other result is observable.

To say a hook actually ran, look for evidence tied to that hook and the session in question. General CLI activity only establishes that Claude Code produced general CLI activity.

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What does Claude Code’s --verbose output prove?

Anthropic’s Claude Code CLI reference describes --verbose as enabling verbose logging that shows full turn-by-turn output and says it is helpful for debugging. The cited reference does not say that this output includes hook invocations, records hook completion, or proves a hook ran.

Therefore, seeing verbose output may help you investigate a session, but do not treat it as a hook-specific event log unless current hook documentation or a reproducible observation establishes that connection. The CLI reference also describes print mode and JSON and streaming output options, but it does not connect those formats to hook events either.

How can I tell whether my hook executed?

The available official documentation does not establish a definitive verification procedure or identify a visible artifact that proves hook invocation and success. A reliable answer needs current, hook-specific documentation or a controlled test whose result can be observed. Without either, a claim that a particular log line, output format, or exit result proves execution is unverified.

If you investigate with a controlled test, evaluate the evidence against these questions rather than assuming a general debug view is conclusive:

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  • Is the evidence specific to the hook event, rather than merely to the surrounding CLI session?
  • Does it show an invocation attempt, a completed process, or both?
  • Does it record an exit status or hook output?
  • Can you tie it to the exact session and project configuration you are checking?
  • Can you independently observe the intended effect?

These questions describe what strong evidence would need to distinguish; they are not a documented Claude Code procedure. The cited CLI reference does not establish which of these artifacts Claude Code exposes for hooks.

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Why a configured hook may still be unverified

Configuration answers whether a hook is defined, not whether the relevant event occurred or the hook process completed. Likewise, observing the intended effect alone may not show which mechanism caused it. Keep the conclusion proportional to the evidence: report a hook as configured, attempted, completed, or effect-confirmed only when you have evidence for that specific stage.

The CLI reference has no publication or revision date stated in the available source information, and CLI behavior can be version-sensitive. Check the live documentation for current hook-specific guidance before relying on a verification method; the cited reference alone leaves the exact procedure unresolved.

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