Command Reference Cheatsheet

This is the reference you keep open in a second tab. Every command, flag, and symbol across all three tools in one place.

Quick Command Overview

Cursor

• @ — Reference symbols, files, folders, URLs
• # — Quick file reference
• / — Slash commands
• Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P — Command palette
• cursor — CLI command

Claude Code

• / — Built-in slash commands
• @ — Reference files in prompts
• # — Quick CLAUDE.md update
• claude — Start interactive mode
• claude -p — One-off query (non-interactive)

Codex

• / — Slash commands
• codex — Start interactive mode
• codex "prompt" — Start with initial prompt
• codex --ask-for-approval or -a — Set trust level
• codex --model — Select model

Cursor Commands

@ Symbol References

Symbol	Description	Example
@files	Reference specific files	@main.js explain this file
@folders	Include entire directories	@src/components analyze structure
@code	Reference code blocks	@calculateTotal how does this work?
@symbols	Reference functions/classes	@UserAuth explain implementation
@definitions	Go to symbol definitions	@getPriceDefinition show me
@docs	Reference documentation	@ReactDocs useState hook
@git	Git history and changes	@git recent commits
@link	Reference URLs	@link https://api.docs.com
@linter-errors	Current linting issues	@linter-errors fix all
@past-chats	Previous conversations	@past-chats auth discussion
@recent-changes	Recent file modifications	@recent-changes last hour
@web	Web search results	@web React 19 features
@cursor-rules	Project rules	@cursor-rules show current
@codebase	Search entire project	@codebase authentication flow

Slash Commands

Command	Description
/Reset Context	Reset to default state
/Generate Cursor Rules	Auto-generate project rules from codebase
/Disable Iterate on Lints	Prevent auto-fixing lint errors
/Add Open Files to Context	Include all open tabs
/Add Active Files to Context	Include only visible tabs

Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P)

Command	Description
Cursor Settings	Open Cursor-specific settings
Cursor: New Rule	Create new project rule
Cursor: Toggle Privacy Mode	Enable/disable privacy
Cursor: Export Chat	Save conversation
Cursor: Import Settings	Import from VS Code
Cursor: Toggle Max Mode	Enable advanced features
Cursor: Generate Commit Message	AI commit message
Cursor: Resolve Conflicts	AI merge conflict resolution

Cursor CLI

# Basic usage
cursor [options] [paths...]          # Open files/folders
cursor .                             # Open current directory
cursor file.js                       # Open specific file
cursor folder/                       # Open folder
cat file.txt | cursor -              # Read from stdin

# File operations
cursor -d --diff <file1> <file2>     # Compare two files
cursor -m --merge <p1> <p2> <b> <r>  # Three-way merge
cursor -g --goto file.js:10:5        # Go to line:column
cursor -a --add folder               # Add folder to window
cursor --remove folder               # Remove folder from window

# Window management
cursor -n --new-window               # Force new window
cursor -r --reuse-window             # Force reuse window
cursor -w --wait                     # Wait for files to close

# Agent modes (v2.4+)
cursor --plan "describe task"        # Plan mode (read-only)
cursor --ask "question"              # Ask mode (read-only)

# Configuration
cursor --locale <locale>             # Set locale (e.g., en-US)
cursor --user-data-dir <dir>         # Custom data directory
cursor --profile <name>              # Use/create profile
cursor --add-mcp <json>              # Add MCP server

# Extensions
cursor --list-extensions             # List installed
cursor --install-extension <id>      # Install
cursor --uninstall-extension <id>    # Uninstall
cursor --update-extensions           # Update all

# Troubleshooting
cursor -v --version                  # Show version
cursor -h --help                     # Show help
cursor -s --status                   # Show diagnostics
cursor --disable-extensions          # Safe mode
cursor --verbose                     # Verbose output

Claude Code Commands

Built-in Slash Commands

Command	Purpose	Example
/add-dir	Add working directories	/add-dir ../backend
/bug	Report bugs to Anthropic	/bug unexpected behavior with...
/cd	Move the session to a new working directory without breaking the prompt cache (v2.1.169)	/cd ../backend
/clear	Clear conversation history	/clear
/code-review	Review the diff (formerly /simplify); add --fix to apply findings	/code-review high
/compact	Summarize conversation	/compact focus on auth logic
/config	View/modify configuration	/config
/cost	Show token usage stats	/cost
/doctor	Check installation health	/doctor
/effort	Set reasoning effort, including ultracode	/effort ultracode
/help	Get usage help	/help
/init	Initialize CLAUDE.md	/init
/login	Switch accounts	/login
/logout	Sign out	/logout
/mcp	Manage MCP servers	/mcp
/memory	Edit CLAUDE.md files	/memory
/model	Select AI model; /model fable switches to Claude Fable 5 (v2.1.170+)	/model fable
/permissions	Update permissions	/permissions
/pr_comments	View PR comments	/pr_comments
/review	Request code review	/review
/status	View system status	/status
/terminal-setup	Configure terminal	/terminal-setup
/usage	Detailed token metrics	/usage
/workflows	Watch and manage dynamic workflow runs	/workflows
/vim	Enter vim mode	/vim

Note

think, think harder, and ultrathink are not slash commands — they are keywords you type directly inside a prompt to escalate the extended-thinking budget (e.g. ultrathink about this system design). For a persistent reasoning depth, use the /effort slash command or adjust the effort level with the left/right arrows in /model.

Claude CLI Flags

# Interactive mode
claude                              # Start REPL
claude "explain this project"       # Start with prompt

# One-off queries (non-interactive)
claude -p "explain this function"   # Query and exit
cat logs.txt | claude -p "analyze"  # Process piped content

# Session management
claude -c                           # Continue last conversation
claude -c -p "add tests"           # Continue non-interactively
claude -r                           # Choose session to resume
claude -r "abc123"                  # Resume specific session

# Utility
claude update                       # Update to latest
claude mcp                          # Configure MCP servers

Flag	Description	Example
-p, --print	Non-interactive mode	claude -p "fix this bug"
-c, --continue	Continue last conversation	claude -c
-r, --resume	Resume specific session	claude -r "session-id"
--model	Specify model	claude --model opus
--dangerously-skip-permissions	Skip all permission prompts	For CI/CD only
--output-format	Output format (text/json/stream-json)	claude -p "query" --output-format json
--input-format	Input format (text/stream-json)	claude -p --input-format stream-json
--verbose	Verbose output	claude --verbose
--debug	Enable debug mode (includes MCP)	claude --debug
--safe-mode	Start with all customizations (CLAUDE.md, plugins, skills, hooks, MCP servers) disabled, for troubleshooting (v2.1.169; also via the CLAUDE_CODE_SAFE_MODE env var)	claude --safe-mode
--add-dir	Add additional directories	claude --add-dir ../shared
--max-turns	Limit agentic turns	claude -p "task" --max-turns 3
--permission-mode	Set permission mode	claude --permission-mode plan
--session-id	Use specific session ID	claude --session-id "uuid"
--from-pr	Start with PR context	claude --from-pr 123
-v, --version	Show version	claude --version
-h, --help	Show help	claude --help

Custom Slash Commands

Create in .claude/commands/ as markdown files:

---
allowed-tools: [Edit, Read, Bash]
description: Fix GitHub issue
argument-hint: issue-number
---

Fix GitHub issue #$ARGUMENTS:

1. Fetch details: !gh issue view $ARGUMENTS
2. Analyze the problem
3. Implement solution
4. Add tests
5. Create PR with fix

Features:

• $ARGUMENTS — Pass parameters from the slash command
• allowed-tools — Restrict which tools the command can use
• argument-hint — Show hint text for the argument
• @file.js — Reference files inline
• !command — Execute bash commands inline

MCP Commands

# Configure MCP servers
claude mcp add <name> -s <scope> -- <command> [args]
claude mcp remove <name>
claude mcp list

# In-session MCP
/mcp                           # List available MCP tools
/mcp__github__create-pr        # Use a specific MCP tool

Codex Commands

Codex CLI

# Interactive mode
codex                               # Start interactive REPL
codex "explain this project"        # Start with initial prompt

# Configuration
codex --model <model>               # Specify model
codex -a <mode>                     # untrusted | on-failure | on-request | never
codex --full-auto                   # = -a on-request + --sandbox workspace-write
codex --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox  # alias --yolo; no approvals, no sandbox

# Utility
codex --version                     # Show version
codex --help                        # Show help

Codex CLI Flags

Flag	Description	Example
--model	Specify model	codex --model gpt-5.5
-a, --ask-for-approval	Approval policy	codex -a on-failure
--full-auto	Low-friction preset: -a on-request + --sandbox workspace-write	codex --full-auto
--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox	Alias --yolo. No approvals, no sandbox — isolated runners only	codex --yolo
--sandbox	Sandbox mode	codex --sandbox workspace-write
--version	Show version	codex --version
--help	Show help	codex --help

Codex Approval Modes

Mode	Description	Use When
untrusted	Read-only. Asks before any action.	Exploring, learning, reviewing
on-failure	Auto-approves writes, asks on failures.	Normal development work
on-request	Auto-approves unless tool asks for escalation.	Trusted development tasks
never	Never asks for approval.	Fully trusted automation
--full-auto	Preset: auto-approves workspace writes but still escalates on request (-a on-request + workspace-write).	Low-friction local work
--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox (--yolo)	Truly approves everything — no approvals, no sandbox.	Hardened/isolated runners only

Codex Slash Commands

Command	Description
/model	Switch model
/new	Start new conversation
/compact	Summarize conversation

Advanced Patterns

Cursor: Context Chaining

Combine multiple @ references for comprehensive context:

@UserAuth @DatabaseSchema @recent-changes
explain how authentication works with the database

@src/api/*.js @tests/*.test.js
ensure all API endpoints have corresponding tests

Claude Code: Piping and Automation

# Analyze logs
tail -f app.log | claude -p "monitor for errors"

# Automated code review
git diff | claude -p "review these changes for bugs"

# CI/CD integration
claude -p "fix linting errors" --dangerously-skip-permissions

# JSON output for scripts
claude -p "list all TODO comments" --output-format json

# Scheduled tasks
0 * * * * claude -p "generate status report" > report.md

Codex: Automation Patterns

# GitHub issue automation
# (configured through Codex App settings)
# Assign issue to @codex to trigger cloud agent

# Local interactive
codex "implement the feature described in issue #42"

# Full auto with sandbox
codex --full-auto "add input validation to all API endpoints"

# Quick review
codex "what would break if I remove this function?"

Most Used Commands

Cursor Top 5

1. @codebase — Search entire project
2. @web — Web search for docs
3. /Generate Cursor Rules — Auto-generate rules
4. Cmd/Ctrl+K — Inline edit
5. cursor . — Open project

Claude Code Top 5

1. claude — Start session
2. /clear — Fresh context
3. /compact — Summarize conversation
4. claude -p "task" — Quick one-off task
5. /cost — Check usage

Codex Top 5

1. codex — Start session
2. codex "prompt" — Start with task
3. /model — Switch model
4. codex -a on-failure — Set approval policy
5. codex --full-auto — Full auto mode

Note

Commands and flags evolve with each release. Run --help on any tool for the current list. Check the Updates page for newly added commands.