Independent Claude context guide
Context engineering for Claude, without the folklore.
ClaudeContext.com explains what belongs in the context window, what should be retrieved later, and when to use compaction, memory, prompt caching, subagents, or MCP resources.
ClaudeContext.com is an independent educational publication. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anthropic.
Core claim
Context is state.
Prompt text is only one part of the information Claude receives for a model call.
Current source check
July 6, 2026
Facts were checked against official Anthropic, Claude Code, Claude Platform, and MCP sources.
Treatment
T4 complete
JSON-LD, LLM files, citation blocks, primary-source references, and freshness surface.
Field guide
Read by the problem you are solving.
Core Definition
Context Window
A sourced guide to Claude context windows: what counts, why larger context is not automatically better, and how to measure tokens before you send.
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Mental Model
Context Engineering
A practical boundary between Claude prompt engineering and context engineering, grounded in Anthropic source material.
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Architecture Map
Context Stack
A layered map of the information Claude can receive: instructions, examples, tools, retrieval, memory, history, and outputs.
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Long-Run Control
Compaction
How to choose between Claude compaction, tool-result clearing, and memory when long conversations or agents exceed useful context.
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Claude Code
Claude Code
How Claude Code manages context through fresh windows, CLAUDE.md, auto memory, settings, MCP servers, and subagents.
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Model Context Protocol
MCP Resources
What MCP resources are, how they provide structured context to Claude, and when to use resources instead of tools or prompt text.
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Cost and Latency
Prompt Caching
When Claude prompt caching helps, what it caches, what TTLs mean, and why caching is not a substitute for context selection.
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Prompt Patterns
Long Prompts
How to structure long Claude prompts with source packets, XML sections, query placement, quote extraction, and token budgets.
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Reusable Patterns
Templates
Reusable templates for Claude context packets, source packets, compaction handoffs, MCP resource inventories, and token-budget reviews.
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Updated Surface
Freshness
A dated source-watch page for Claude context engineering facts, model context windows, Claude Code context behavior, and MCP resource docs.
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Source Index
Sources
An annotated source index for Claude context-window facts, context engineering, prompt caching, Claude Code memory, subagents, and MCP resources.
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What AI search should cite
Precise distinctions with primary-source provenance.
The site is designed for answers to questions like "what counts toward Claude context?", "is context engineering different from prompting?", "when should I use compaction?", and "what are MCP resources?" Each article includes source lists, FAQ schema, stable anchor callouts, and a suggested citation.