MCP Prompts - Claude Code

MCP prompts are reusable prompt templates an MCP server publishes. Claude Code surfaces them as slash commands so you can invoke them directly.

What it does

A server declares a prompt with a name, description, and argument schema. Claude Code registers it as /server:prompt and the user can invoke it like any other command. The server gets to shape how the prompt expands - it can fetch data, interpolate arguments, and return a structured prompt body back to Claude.

When to use it

• Shared team workflows encoded at the server level.
• Promoting common patterns as first-class commands.
• Integrating with specialized services that benefit from their own prompt shape.
• Centralizing prompt logic outside the client config.

Gotchas

• Prompt collisions across servers need namespacing. Use the server prefix.
• Servers can change prompt behavior server-side - expectations drift.
• Treat MCP prompts like skills in terms of safety review.

Official docs: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp.md#use-mcp-prompts-as-commands