Claude Code Skills: What ELI5 Means and How to Add One

In Claude Code, an ELI5 skill is a reusable set of instructions that asks Claude to explain a topic as if the reader were five: simply, with familiar examples and little jargon. To add one, create a skill folder containing a SKILL.md file with a short YAML frontmatter block and the instructions, then invoke it by name or let Claude Code select it when its description fits the task.

What a Claude Code skill is

A skill is a package of guidance that Claude Code can use for a particular kind of task. It can contain a main instruction file and, when useful, supporting files such as examples, reference material, or scripts. Skills are intended to make a workflow repeatable without pasting the same detailed prompt into every conversation.

“ELI5” is shorthand for “explain like I’m five.” It does not mean that the explanation must literally be suitable for a five-year-old, or that every answer must be childish. In a skill name such as eli5, it signals the desired style: accessible language, clear definitions, concrete comparisons, and enough context for a beginner.

A skill is different from a one-off prompt. A prompt gives Claude a request for the current task; a skill saves reusable directions so Claude Code can apply them again. It is also not a guarantee of perfect accuracy: simplifying an explanation should not remove important caveats or change the facts.

How skills are discovered and used

Claude Code reads skill metadata to determine what a skill is for. The skill’s name and description help make it discoverable; the fuller instructions in SKILL.md guide Claude when the skill is used. Depending on the skill setup and the task, Claude may apply a relevant skill automatically, or you can ask for it explicitly with a slash command.

For example, a skill named eli5 can be requested as /eli5 followed by a topic or passage. Its description should be specific enough to distinguish it from general writing instructions. “Explains technical or unfamiliar subjects in plain language for beginners” is more useful than “Makes things simple.”

Skills can be placed at different scopes. A personal skill in your home configuration can be available across your projects; a project skill can be kept with a repository and shared with people who use that project. Claude Code’s documentation and installed version are the best references for the exact supported paths and behavior, since these can change.

How to add an ELI5 skill

1. Choose the scope. Use a personal skills directory if the skill is just for your own work, or a project-level skills directory if it should travel with a repository. A commonly used layout is ~/.claude/skills/eli5/SKILL.md for a personal skill and .claude/skills/eli5/SKILL.md for a project skill.
2. Create the folder and file. Make a folder named eli5 under the chosen skills directory, then create SKILL.md inside it. The folder name becomes the skill’s short identifier.
3. Add frontmatter and instructions. Put YAML metadata at the top of the file, bounded by lines containing three hyphens. Include a name and a useful description, then write the actual style rules below the closing delimiter.
4. Try it on a real task. Start or continue a Claude Code session and ask for /eli5 followed by a topic. If it does not appear or behave as expected, check the path, frontmatter, and whether your version supports that skill format.

A minimal example looks like this:

---
name: eli5
description: Explain unfamiliar or technical topics in plain language for beginners, with simple examples and minimal jargon.
---

Explain the requested topic clearly for a beginner.
- Define necessary terms in everyday language.
- Use one familiar analogy or concrete example when it genuinely helps.
- Keep important qualifications and factual accuracy; do not talk down to the reader.
- If the request is ambiguous, ask what the reader wants explained.

Save the file as plain text with the exact name SKILL.md. The metadata describes when the skill applies; the body tells Claude what to do. Avoid putting all the instructions into the description, because that field is meant to identify the skill, not replace its guidance.

Writing instructions that produce good explanations

A useful ELI5 skill specifies the audience and the techniques to use, while leaving room for the topic. “Use simple words” is too vague on its own. More operational guidance can tell Claude to define unavoidable terminology, introduce one idea at a time, and use examples only when they clarify the subject.

• Set a tone, not a fake age limit. Ask for beginner-friendly language rather than insisting that the answer sound like a child speaking.
• Preserve accuracy. Tell the skill not to omit exceptions or present an analogy as a literal explanation.
• Control length if needed. For example, ask for a short explanation first, followed by a little more detail if the topic needs it.
• Make boundaries explicit. A skill can say to acknowledge uncertainty or ask a clarifying question instead of guessing.

For instance, a strong explanation of encryption might compare it to locking a message in a box, then clarify that real encryption uses mathematical methods rather than a physical key. That second part prevents a simple analogy from becoming misleading.

Project skills, personal skills, and sharing

Choose a personal skill when you want your preferred explanation style available in many projects. Choose a project skill when the instructions are part of a team’s workflow and should be reviewed alongside the code. A project-level file can be committed to version control, so collaborators can receive the same instructions; avoid including secrets or private information in it.

Skills are not the only way to guide Claude Code. Project instructions and other configuration features can provide broader guidance, while a skill is most useful for a distinct, reusable task or mode. For example, general repository rules might explain how to run tests, while an ELI5 skill controls how to explain a difficult concept. Pick the narrowest mechanism that matches the instruction’s purpose.

Common problems and misconceptions

If a skill is missing, first confirm that the directory and filename match the supported layout and that SKILL.md has valid frontmatter. Check that the YAML delimiters are on their own lines and that metadata values are written correctly. Then consult the documentation for the Claude Code version in use; older versions or different installations may not recognize the same features.

If the skill exists but is not selected automatically, improve its description so it clearly states the situations where it applies, or invoke it directly if available. If the answer is still too technical, revise the instructions with concrete requirements rather than merely repeating “make it simpler.” A skill guides output; it does not change the underlying facts or guarantee that every explanation will be correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ELI5 mean in Claude Code?
It means “explain like I’m five”: describe a topic in beginner-friendly terms, using simple language and helpful examples. It is a style cue, not a requirement to speak to an actual child.

How do I call the ELI5 skill?
If it is installed and recognized, try /eli5 followed by the topic or text you want explained. You can also describe the desired style in a normal prompt if you have not created a skill.

Where should I put the skill folder?
Use the documented personal skills location for a skill you want across projects, or the project-level skills location for one intended to live in a repository. Check current Claude Code documentation for the paths supported by your installation.

Does a skill run automatically?
Claude Code can use skill descriptions to identify relevant skills, but selection depends on the setup and task. A clear description improves discoverability; explicit invocation is a practical way to request a particular skill.

Can I add examples or other files?
Yes, a skill can include supporting material when needed. Keep the main instructions in SKILL.md, and refer to additional files clearly so Claude can use them in the intended context.

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