Skills are folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that Claude loads dynamically to improve performance on specialized tasks. Skills teach Claude how to complete specific tasks in a repeatable way, whether that's creating documents with your company's brand guidelines, analyzing data using your organization's specific workflows, or automating personal tasks.

What are Skills? | Claude Help Center

Skills compared to other Claude capabilities

Skills vs. projects

Projects provide static background knowledge that's always loaded when you start chats within them. Skills provide specialized procedures that activate dynamically when needed and work everywhere across Claude.

Skills vs. MCP (Model Context Protocol)

MCP connects Claude to external services and data sources. Skills provide procedural knowledge—instructions for how to complete specific tasks or workflows. You can use both together: MCP connections give Claude access to tools, while Skills teach Claude how to use those tools effectively.

Skills vs. custom instructions

Custom instructions apply broadly to all your conversations. Skills are task-specific and only load when relevant, making them better for specialized workflows.

https://windliang.wang/2025/12/30/一文了解Anthropic新推出的Skills标准/

Anthropic 在实践中逐渐形成了一套清晰的分层结构：

• 模型（Model）

  负责思考和推理

• 运行时（Runtime）

  提供文件系统、代码执行能力

• MCP Server

  连接外部世界（API、数据、系统）

• Skill

  提供专业判断与执行方式

MCP 负责「能做什么」，Skill 负责「应该怎么做」，Agent 本身，只是一个执行载体。

• 模型 ≈ CPU 处理器
• Agent Runtime ≈ 操作系统
• Skill ≈ 应用软件
• MCP ≈ 外设（键盘、摄像头、音响）