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Skill Template (Blank Scaffold)

Official

A bare-bones starter file to copy when authoring a new Claude Code skill.

UtilitiesBeginner★ 167,132⑂ 19,920AI score 1/10Last updated: Aug 7, 2026

What it does

This is the empty skill template shipped in Anthropic's official skills repository. It contains only the YAML frontmatter (name, description) and a placeholder heading for your instructions. It performs no work on its own — it exists to show the correct file shape.

  • Demonstrates the standard SKILL.md structure
  • Serves as a copy-paste base for new skill folders
  • Reminds you of the two required frontmatter fields

Who it's for

  • Anyone writing their first Claude Code skill
  • Teams standardizing the format across many internal skills
  • Learners who want to see what a skill file looks like

Examples

  1. Copy template to ~/.claude/skills/pdf-report, set name: pdf-report, and describe it as "use when generating the monthly revenue PDF report," then fill in the steps.
  2. When encoding your team's code-review rules, base every new skill on this template so all frontmatter stays consistent.
  3. Hand the blank template to workshop attendees as an exercise in skill authoring.

· · · Install guide · · ·

Try it now, no install

Paste this into Claude to use the skill without installing anything.

Read the instructions in this file and follow them to help me:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/anthropics/skills/HEAD/template/SKILL.md

What I want: (describe your task here)

If Claude can't open the link, open it yourself and paste the contents instead.

↓ If it works for you, download the ZIP below and install it. Then it runs on its own — no pasting each time.

Install in the Claude app (no terminal)
  1. Download the ZIP with the button below.
  2. In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
  3. Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the ZIP.
↓ Download ZIP
Install in Claude Code

Let Claude do it — paste this into Claude Code

Install the skill I found on AI Skill Mart.
Copy the template folder from the GitHub repo anthropics/skills into my ~/.claude/skills/template-skill/.
When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.

Install with a command instead

git clone https://github.com/anthropics/skills.git && cp -r skills/template ~/.claude/skills/my-new-skill

⚠ This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/anthropics/skills.git
  3. Create the skills directory if needed: mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
  4. Copy the template under a new name: cp -r skills/template ~/.claude/skills/my-new-skill
  5. Edit ~/.claude/skills/my-new-skill/SKILL.md: set name to match the folder and write a description stating what the skill does and when Claude should use it.
  6. Add your step-by-step instructions below the # Insert instructions below heading.
  7. Restart Claude Code and try a matching request to confirm the skill triggers.
View source on GitHub ↗