Introduction to Context Design
What this lesson teaches
In this lesson, you learn why context matters when working with Claude (or any LLM), and how to think about it intentionally to get better and more stable outputs.
The fundamental shift is simple:
Move from "What can I include?" to "What should I include?"
The core idea
Before adding any information to context, ask:
Does Claude genuinely need this to complete this task?
Not "might this be useful someday?" or "does this seem relevant?" If the answer is not a clear yes, do not include it.
Key Takeaways
- Context is a design decision, not a dump
- Focus on what Claude needs right now
- Clarity and intent beat volume