Code Tab & Claude Code

Last verified: 13 February 2026 | Applies to: Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise

In 30 seconds

Claude Code is Claude for building and processing. The Code tab in Claude Desktop gives operators coding power through a visual interface. Claude Code CLI is the full terminal version for those comfortable in the command line. Claude Code on the web (claude.ai/code) connects to GitHub repos for cloud-based development. Neither is required to get value from Claude, but both extend what’s possible.

What it does

Code tab in Desktop: Click the Code tab in Claude Desktop to start. It’s Claude Code with a visual interface — good for operators who want to build automations, process data, or work with files without opening a terminal.

Claude Code CLI: Install via npm (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code) or Homebrew. It lives in your terminal, understands your codebase, and helps you code through natural language commands.

Claude Code on the web: At claude.ai/code, Claude connects to your GitHub repos and can clone, edit, test, and propose fixes from a secure cloud sandbox. Useful for reviewing pull requests, fixing bugs, and running tasks asynchronously.

What operators use it for:

• Building custom automations and internal tools
• Processing and transforming data at scale
• Creating plugins programmatically
• Working with codebases and technical projects
• Generating scripts for repetitive tasks

How operators actually use it

I have 500 customer records in a CSV that need to be cleaned — remove duplicates, standardise phone numbers, and split into regional files.

Open the Code tab, describe the task, and Claude writes and runs the script. You get the cleaned files without writing code yourself.

Build me a simple dashboard that reads our sales data from a Google Sheet and displays key metrics.

Claude writes the code, sets up the project, and delivers a working dashboard.

What to watch out for

• Not required for most operators. Chat, Cowork, and plugins handle most business workflows. Code tools are for when you need to build something custom or process data at scale.
• The CLI requires terminal comfort. If you’ve never used a terminal, start with the Code tab in Desktop — same power, visual interface.
• Usage counts against your plan. Claude Code sessions consume usage like chat and Cowork.

Related

• Building a Plugin — one practical use of code tools
• Data Analysis — processing data without code vs with code tools

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