Getting Started with Claude: Quick Reference — Claude Cert Academy

Everything you need to start using Claude effectively, on one page.

Five Ways to Access Claude

• Claude.ai — browser-based chat at claude.ai (no coding required)
• Claude mobile app — iOS and Android, same capabilities as the web
• Claude Code — coding assistant CLI at claude.ai/code or via npm install
• Anthropic API — programmatic access for developers building applications
• Third-party apps — Claude is embedded in many tools via the API (Notion, Slack, etc.)

Model Families at a Glance

• Haiku — fastest and most affordable; best for high-volume simple tasks
• Sonnet — best balance of speed, capability, and cost; the default choice for most work
• Opus — highest capability for complex reasoning; use when Sonnet is not enough

New to Claude? Start with claude.ai — it uses Sonnet by default and requires no setup. You can switch models in the interface settings.

What Claude Can Help With

• Writing and editing: drafts, summaries, rewrites, translations
• Research and analysis: synthesizing documents, extracting key points, comparing options
• Coding: writing, reviewing, and explaining code in most languages
• Brainstorming: generating ideas, exploring alternatives, thinking through problems
• Q&A: answering questions based on information you provide

Conversation Best Practices

Be Specific

Vague requests produce vague answers. Include the audience, the desired format, and the goal.

• Too vague: Write about climate change
• Better: Write a 3-paragraph summary of the main causes of climate change for a high-school audience. Use simple language and avoid jargon.

Provide Context

Claude only knows what you tell it. Paste the document, code, or data you want it to work with.

Iterate

Claude remembers the conversation. Ask it to revise, clarify, or expand on its previous response.

You: Summarize this article: [paste article]
Claude: [summary]

You: Make it shorter and focus only on the main argument.
Claude: [revised summary]

Key Limitations to Know

• Knowledge cutoff: Claude was trained on data up to a certain date and does not know about recent events
• No internet access by default: Claude cannot browse the web unless given a tool to do so
• Per-session memory: Claude does not remember previous conversations unless you summarize the context
• Can make mistakes: Claude can be confidently wrong; verify factual claims from authoritative sources
• Cannot take actions: Claude cannot send emails, make purchases, or interact with external systems without tools

Common Use Case Templates

Document Summary

Please summarize the following document in 3-5 bullet points. Focus on the main conclusions and any action items.

[paste document here]

Email Draft

Write a professional email to [recipient] asking for [request]. 
Tone: [formal/friendly/direct]
Key points to include: [list your points]
Desired length: [short/medium/long]

Code Explanation

Explain what the following code does in plain English. Assume the reader is a non-technical manager.

[paste code here]

Brainstorm

I am trying to [goal]. Generate 10 ideas that I might not have considered. 
Constraints: [list any constraints]
Context: [brief background]

Privacy and Trust

• Anthropic does not use API conversations to train models by default
• Conversations on claude.ai may be reviewed for safety and improvements (see Privacy Policy)
• Do not share sensitive personal data, passwords, or confidential business information in Claude.ai chat
• For sensitive business data, use the API with data handling agreements in place

Next Steps

• Try Claude.ai at claude.ai — free tier available
• Read the usage policy to understand what Claude is designed for
• Explore Claude Code if you write code — it is a significant productivity multiplier
• Check out the Anthropic documentation for API access

Continue to Claude Cert Academy