Claude Code maintains project-specific memory through the CLAUDE.md file and configuration settings, but it does not retain conversation history across different terminal sessions in the traditional sense. When you start a new Claude Code session, the conversation context begins fresh, but the tool automatically loads project-specific information from CLAUDE.md files, custom slash commands, and configuration settings that provide continuity in understanding your project’s requirements and coding standards. This design ensures that Claude Code has consistent knowledge about your project’s architecture, coding conventions, and preferred workflows without carrying over potentially irrelevant conversation history that could consume tokens unnecessarily.
The memory system works through several persistent mechanisms that maintain project continuity across sessions. The CLAUDE.md file serves as the primary project memory, storing essential information about coding standards, architectural decisions, common workflows, and project-specific preferences that Claude Code references in every new session. Custom slash commands created in the .claude/commands directory persist across sessions and provide standardized ways to execute common workflows. Project-specific MCP configurations and permission settings also persist, ensuring that Claude Code has consistent access to the tools and resources it needs for your specific development environment.
Advanced memory management includes the ability to resume previous conversations using the --continue flag, which allows you to pick up where you left off in a previous session while maintaining full context from earlier interactions. The tool also supports conversation storage and retrieval, where you can navigate back to previous conversations using arrow keys or command options to reference earlier work or continue incomplete tasks. However, this session memory is designed to be selective and purposeful rather than comprehensive, focusing on maintaining useful context while avoiding the token consumption and performance issues that would result from carrying forward every conversation detail across all sessions.