Agent SDK

Agent SDK overview

Build production AI agents with Claude Code as a library

The Claude Code SDK has been renamed to the Claude Agent SDK. If you're migrating from the old SDK, see the Migration Guide.

Build AI agents that autonomously read files, run commands, search the web, edit code, and more. The Agent SDK gives you the same tools, agent loop, and context management that power Claude Code, programmable in Python and TypeScript.

import asyncio
from claude_agent_sdk import query, ClaudeAgentOptions


async def main():
    async for message in query(
        prompt="Find and fix the bug in auth.py",
        options=ClaudeAgentOptions(allowed_tools=["Read", "Edit", "Bash"]),
    ):
        print(message)  # Claude reads the file, finds the bug, edits it


asyncio.run(main())

The Agent SDK includes built-in tools for reading files, running commands, and editing code, so your agent can start working immediately without you implementing tool execution. Dive into the quickstart or explore real agents built with the SDK:

Quickstart

Build a bug-fixing agent in minutes

Example agents

Email assistant, research agent, and more

Get started

Install the SDK
Set your API key
Get an API key from the Console, then set it as an environment variable:
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-api-key
The SDK also supports authentication via third-party API providers:
- Amazon Bedrock: set CLAUDE_CODE_USE_BEDROCK=1 environment variable and configure AWS credentials
- Google Vertex AI: set CLAUDE_CODE_USE_VERTEX=1 environment variable and configure Google Cloud credentials
- Microsoft Azure: set CLAUDE_CODE_USE_FOUNDRY=1 environment variable and configure Azure credentials
See the setup guides for Bedrock, Vertex AI, or Azure AI Foundry for details.
Unless previously approved, Anthropic does not allow third party developers to offer claude.ai login or rate limits for their products, including agents built on the Claude Agent SDK. Please use the API key authentication methods described in this document instead.

Run your first agent

This example creates an agent that lists files in your current directory using built-in tools.

import asyncio
from claude_agent_sdk import query, ClaudeAgentOptions


async def main():
    async for message in query(
        prompt="What files are in this directory?",
        options=ClaudeAgentOptions(allowed_tools=["Bash", "Glob"]),
    ):
        if hasattr(message, "result"):
            print(message.result)


asyncio.run(main())

Ready to build? Follow the Quickstart to create an agent that finds and fixes bugs in minutes.

Capabilities

Everything that makes Claude Code powerful is available in the SDK:

Claude Code features

The SDK also supports Claude Code's filesystem-based configuration. To use these features, set setting_sources=["project"] (Python) or settingSources: ['project'] (TypeScript) in your options.

Feature	Description	Location
Skills	Specialized capabilities defined in Markdown	`.claude/skills/SKILL.md`
Slash commands	Custom commands for common tasks	`.claude/commands/*.md`
Memory	Project context and instructions	`CLAUDE.md` or `.claude/CLAUDE.md`
Plugins	Extend with custom commands, agents, and MCP servers	Programmatic via `plugins` option

Compare the Agent SDK to other Claude tools

The Claude platform offers multiple ways to build with Claude. Here's how the Agent SDK fits in:

Changelog

View the full changelog for SDK updates, bug fixes, and new features:

TypeScript SDK: view CHANGELOG.md
Python SDK: view CHANGELOG.md

Reporting bugs

If you encounter bugs or issues with the Agent SDK:

TypeScript SDK: report issues on GitHub
Python SDK: report issues on GitHub

Branding guidelines

For partners integrating the Claude Agent SDK, use of Claude branding is optional. When referencing Claude in your product:

Allowed:

"Claude Agent" (preferred for dropdown menus)
"Claude" (when within a menu already labeled "Agents")
"{YourAgentName} Powered by Claude" (if you have an existing agent name)

Not permitted:

"Claude Code" or "Claude Code Agent"
Claude Code-branded ASCII art or visual elements that mimic Claude Code

Your product should maintain its own branding and not appear to be Claude Code or any Anthropic product. For questions about branding compliance, contact the Anthropic sales team.

License and terms

Use of the Claude Agent SDK is governed by Anthropic's Commercial Terms of Service, including when you use it to power products and services that you make available to your own customers and end users, except to the extent a specific component or dependency is covered by a different license as indicated in that component's LICENSE file.

Next steps

Quickstart

Build an agent that finds and fixes bugs in minutes

Example agents

Email assistant, research agent, and more

TypeScript SDK

Full TypeScript API reference and examples

Python SDK

Full Python API reference and examples

Was this page helpful?

Agent SDK

Agent SDK overview

Build production AI agents with Claude Code as a library

The Claude Code SDK has been renamed to the Claude Agent SDK. If you're migrating from the old SDK, see the Migration Guide.

import asyncio
from claude_agent_sdk import query, ClaudeAgentOptions


async def main():
    async for message in query(
        prompt="Find and fix the bug in auth.py",
        options=ClaudeAgentOptions(allowed_tools=["Read", "Edit", "Bash"]),
    ):
        print(message)  # Claude reads the file, finds the bug, edits it


asyncio.run(main())

Quickstart

Build a bug-fixing agent in minutes

Example agents

Email assistant, research agent, and more

Get started

Install the SDK
Set your API key
Get an API key from the Console, then set it as an environment variable:
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-api-key
The SDK also supports authentication via third-party API providers:
- Amazon Bedrock: set CLAUDE_CODE_USE_BEDROCK=1 environment variable and configure AWS credentials
- Google Vertex AI: set CLAUDE_CODE_USE_VERTEX=1 environment variable and configure Google Cloud credentials
- Microsoft Azure: set CLAUDE_CODE_USE_FOUNDRY=1 environment variable and configure Azure credentials
See the setup guides for Bedrock, Vertex AI, or Azure AI Foundry for details.
Unless previously approved, Anthropic does not allow third party developers to offer claude.ai login or rate limits for their products, including agents built on the Claude Agent SDK. Please use the API key authentication methods described in this document instead.

Run your first agent

This example creates an agent that lists files in your current directory using built-in tools.

import asyncio
from claude_agent_sdk import query, ClaudeAgentOptions


async def main():
    async for message in query(
        prompt="What files are in this directory?",
        options=ClaudeAgentOptions(allowed_tools=["Bash", "Glob"]),
    ):
        if hasattr(message, "result"):
            print(message.result)


asyncio.run(main())

Ready to build? Follow the Quickstart to create an agent that finds and fixes bugs in minutes.

Capabilities

Everything that makes Claude Code powerful is available in the SDK:

Claude Code features

The SDK also supports Claude Code's filesystem-based configuration. To use these features, set setting_sources=["project"] (Python) or settingSources: ['project'] (TypeScript) in your options.

Feature	Description	Location
Skills	Specialized capabilities defined in Markdown	`.claude/skills/SKILL.md`
Slash commands	Custom commands for common tasks	`.claude/commands/*.md`
Memory	Project context and instructions	`CLAUDE.md` or `.claude/CLAUDE.md`
Plugins	Extend with custom commands, agents, and MCP servers	Programmatic via `plugins` option

Compare the Agent SDK to other Claude tools

The Claude platform offers multiple ways to build with Claude. Here's how the Agent SDK fits in:

Changelog

View the full changelog for SDK updates, bug fixes, and new features:

TypeScript SDK: view CHANGELOG.md
Python SDK: view CHANGELOG.md

Reporting bugs

If you encounter bugs or issues with the Agent SDK:

TypeScript SDK: report issues on GitHub
Python SDK: report issues on GitHub

Branding guidelines

For partners integrating the Claude Agent SDK, use of Claude branding is optional. When referencing Claude in your product:

Allowed:

"Claude Agent" (preferred for dropdown menus)
"Claude" (when within a menu already labeled "Agents")
"{YourAgentName} Powered by Claude" (if you have an existing agent name)

Not permitted:

"Claude Code" or "Claude Code Agent"
Claude Code-branded ASCII art or visual elements that mimic Claude Code

Your product should maintain its own branding and not appear to be Claude Code or any Anthropic product. For questions about branding compliance, contact the Anthropic sales team.

License and terms

Next steps

Quickstart

Build an agent that finds and fixes bugs in minutes

Example agents

Email assistant, research agent, and more

TypeScript SDK

Full TypeScript API reference and examples

Python SDK

Full Python API reference and examples

Was this page helpful?

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