What Claude can access

When you run claude in a directory, Claude Code gains access to:

• Your project — files in the directory and subdirectories, plus files elsewhere with your permission.
• Your terminal — any command you could run: build tools, git, package managers, scripts.
• Your git state — current branch, uncommitted changes, recent commit history.
• Your CLAUDE.md — project-specific instructions Claude should know every session.
• Auto memory — learnings Claude saves automatically as you work. The first 200 lines or 25KB of MEMORY.md loads at session start.
• Extensions you configure — MCP servers, skills, subagents, Claude in Chrome.

Trust follows the terminal

If you can do it from the command line, Claude can too. That power is governed by the permission system (Lesson 9) — Claude asks before edits and commands by default.

Check your understanding

Question 1How much of auto memory's MEMORY.md loads at session start?

AAll of itBThe first 200 lines or 25KB, whichever comes firstCNothing until you askDOnly headings

Further reading

• How Claude Code works — access