Open Claude for the first time and you see five options on the left: New, Projects, Artifacts, Code and Customize. This guide explains what each one does, when to use it, and how it can save you time.
- New Start a fresh conversation
- Projects A dedicated workspace for one long-running topic
- Artifacts Documents, tools and pages that Claude builds for you
- Code Claude Code, for building software (paid plan)
- Customize Add skills, connections and plugins
Menu names and features can change as Claude is updated, so treat this as a map, not a rulebook.
What is Claude?
Claude is an AI assistant made by Anthropic. You type a message (or speak, or upload a file) and Claude replies in plain language. Think of it as a very well-read helper that is available at any hour and never tires of a follow-up question.
| Claude can help with | Examples | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing and editing | Articles, letters, emails, notices, translations between Hindi and English | ||
| Explaining | Difficult topics in simple language, step by step | ||
| Analysing | PDFs, Excel sheets, images and long documents | ||
| Calculating and organising | Tables, formulas, comparisons and checklists | ||
| Building | Small tools, web pages, calculators and presentations | ||
| Researching | Searching the web for current information | ||
One caution before you start. Claude can make mistakes. Always verify important facts, figures, tax rules and legal points from an official source before you act on them.
New: start a fresh chat
Best for quick questions and one-time tasks
Selecting New opens a blank conversation. This is where most people begin, and for many everyday jobs it is all you need: brainstorming, drafting, explaining a concept or checking your understanding.
How to get better answers
| Tip | Why it helps | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep one topic per chat | Answers stay focused and accurate | ||
| Give context: who you are, who the reader is, what format you want | A better first answer and fewer corrections | ||
| Upload files such as PDFs, Excel sheets or images | Claude works on your real material instead of guessing | ||
| Turn on web search for current information | Rates, news and rules change; search keeps answers fresh | ||
| Ask follow-ups: “make it shorter”, “explain like I’m a beginner” | You refine the answer instead of starting again |
Try this: “Explain the difference between a loan limit and drawing power in a table, in simple language for a first-time borrower.”
Projects: a workspace for ongoing work
Best for anything you come back to again and again
A Project is a separate workspace for one subject. You add your own files and standing instructions once, and every chat inside that project starts with them already in mind. You stop repeating yourself.
| Project idea | What you could store inside | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class teaching | Syllabus, past worksheets, your preferred question style | ||
| Website or blog | Your style guide, published articles, a topic list | ||
| Tax and GST work | Checklists, formats, instruction notes | ||
| Investing research | Watchlists, notes, your own rules | ||
| Job search | Your CV, target roles, interview notes | ||
Why it is worth using
- No repeating yourself. Your background and preferences are set once.
- Consistent output. The same tone, format and standards every time.
- Everything in one place. Related chats and files sit together, so they are easy to find later.
A useful standing instruction: “Always answer in a table first, then add a short summary. Use simple language suitable for middle-class readers.”
Artifacts: things Claude builds for you
Best for anything you want to keep, edit, reuse or share
When Claude creates something substantial, such as a document, a web page, a calculator or a chart, it appears in a separate panel beside the chat. The Artifacts section collects these creations so you can return to them. You get a working result, not just a paragraph of text.
| You can create | Practical example | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive calculators | EMI, SIP, interest or GST calculators | ||
| Web pages | A simple landing page or an event invitation | ||
| Documents and reports | Study notes, guides, neatly formatted articles | ||
| Charts and dashboards | A visual comparison of returns or expenses | ||
| Practice material | A quiz or worksheet for students | ||
The real strength is iteration. Ask for changes such as “change the colour”, “add a column” or “show the result in rupees”, and Claude updates the same item instead of starting over. Published pages can also be shared through a link.
Code: Claude Code for building software
Best for people who build or maintain software
Claude Code lets Claude work like a software developer. It reads the files in a project folder, writes code, fixes bugs and runs tasks. The Upgrade label next to it in the sidebar means it needs a paid plan.
| Task | Example request | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | “Create a simple website for my coaching centre” | ||
| Fixing | “Find out why this script shows an error” | ||
| Automating | “Rename and sort 200 files by date” | ||
If you only need writing, analysis or learning help, you can safely skip this option. For a small calculator or a single page, Artifacts is usually enough.
Customize: extend what Claude can do
Best when you want Claude to work with your other tools
Customize is the one place where you manage three things: skills, connectors and plugins.
| Part | What it means | Benefit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skills | Ready-made instruction sets that teach Claude how to do a specific task well | Better Excel, Word, PDF and PowerPoint files | ||
| Connectors | Links to services you already use, such as Gmail, Google Drive and Slack | Claude can read your files or emails when you ask it to | ||
| Plugins | Packages that bundle skills, connectors and helpers into one setup for a role or team | A ready-made setup for finance, legal, marketing and similar work |
Once you install a skill, it is switched on by default so Claude can use it automatically when relevant. You can turn it off at any time and switch it back on later.
Stay safe. Connectors and plugins can reach your accounts or run on your computer. Install them only from sources you trust, and connect only what you actually need.
Which option should you use?
| Your need | Choose | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A quick question or one-time task | New | ||
| A long-term topic with repeated work | Projects | ||
| A tool, page or document to keep and edit | Artifacts | ||
| Building or fixing software | Code | ||
| Connecting Gmail or Drive, or adding special abilities | Customize | ||
Ten habits that give better results
- Be specific. Say who you are, what you want and in which format.
- Ask for tables whenever you are comparing things.
- Give an example of the style you like.
- Upload the real document instead of describing it.
- Ask Claude to show its working for any important calculation.
- Verify critical facts such as tax rules, legal points and interest rates.
- Refine, don’t restart. Say “shorter”, “simpler” or “add an example”.
- Use Projects for work you repeat.
- Turn on web search for anything current.
- Keep sensitive data minimal. Avoid sharing passwords, card numbers or ID numbers.
A simple learning order
You do not need to learn everything at once. This order works well for most beginners.
- Use New for a week: questions, drafts and explanations.
- Create one Project for the work you repeat most.
- Ask for a calculator or worksheet and watch it appear as an Artifact.
- Open Customize and try one skill or connector.
- Look at Code only if you want to build software.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude always right?
No. It is a powerful helper, not an authority. Check dates, figures, tax rules and legal details against official sources before you rely on them.
Do I need to know coding to use Claude?
No. New, Projects, Artifacts and Customize work through ordinary conversation. Only Claude Code is aimed at people who build software.
Which option should a complete beginner start with?
Start with New. Once you notice yourself repeating the same background information, move that work into a Project.
What is the difference between a Project and a normal chat?
A normal chat starts from zero. A Project carries your files and instructions into every chat inside it.
Can I ask Claude in Hindi?
Yes. You can write in Hindi, English or a mix of both, and ask for the answer in whichever language you prefer.
The one habit to remember : Treat Claude as a fast, well-read helper, not the final authority. Before you act on any tax rule, legal point, rate or figure, verify it from an official source.