Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Example Skill Template agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Example Skill Template (skill name: example-skill) is a reference file from Anthropic's official Claude Code plugins repository. It shows how a skill folder should be laid out and how a SKILL.md file should be written, including its frontmatter and trigger description. It is aimed at developers and plugin authors writing their first skill. After this guide you will know how to install it, how to trigger it, and what it does and does not do for you.
Example Skill Templateanthropics/claude-plugins-official · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the example-skill ZIP from this skill's page on the directory.
- 2Unzip the folder. Extract the archive so you have a folder containing SKILL.md.
- 3Place it in a skills folder. Move the folder to ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or to .claude/skills/ inside a project.
- 4Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 5Ask a format question. Request something like "show skill format" or "create a skill template" to trigger it.
- 6Adapt the template. Copy the frontmatter and section structure into your own SKILL.md and replace the placeholder content.
What is an agent skill and what does this one do?
Skills are model-invoked capabilities that Claude uses on its own based on the task context. Unlike commands, which the user invokes, or agents, which Claude spawns, a skill provides contextual guidance that Claude folds into its responses.
The example-skill does not perform a practical task. Its SKILL.md is documentation about skill authoring: it explains the skill folder structure, the frontmatter fields (name, description, version, license), and how to write descriptions and clear instructions.
- Purpose: teach the format for Claude Code plugin skills
- Type: guidance text only, with no tool that acts on your files or data
- Activates on requests such as "demonstrate skills", "show skill format" or "create a skill template"
Install the Example Skill Template
Download the ZIP from the skill's page on this directory and unzip it. Then place the skill folder in one of two locations, depending on how you want to use it.
For a personal install across projects, put it in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, put it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project only: .claude/skills/ inside your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need to call the skill by name. Ask in plain language about skill formats or templates, and Claude decides whether to use it based on the skill's description. The trigger phrases listed in the description include "demonstrate skills", "show skill format" and "create a skill template", plus any request that discusses skill development patterns.
- "Show me the skill format for Claude Code plugins."
- "Create a skill template I can start from."
- "Demonstrate skills and how the SKILL.md file is structured."
- "What frontmatter fields does a skill support?"
Understand the skill folder layout
The only required file is SKILL.md inside a skill-named folder. The source also shows optional supporting files such as README.md, references/, examples/ and scripts/. Use subdirectories for reference material when a skill is complex.
Frontmatter supports name and description (both required), plus version and license (optional). The description is the most important field because it tells Claude when to invoke the skill.
- Required: SKILL.md (main skill definition)
- Optional: README.md, references/, examples/, scripts/
- Frontmatter: name (required), description (required), version (optional), license (optional)
skills/
└── skill-name/
└── SKILL.md # Main skill definition (required)Write effective trigger descriptions
The source recommends a description that lists specific trigger phrases, keywords that signal relevance, and the topic areas the skill covers. Start with the phrase "This skill should be used when the user asks to" and quote the exact wording users might type.
Keep each skill focused on one domain and avoid overlap with other skills' trigger conditions. Test that the skill activates for the queries you expect.
- Include specific trigger phrases users might say
- Include keywords that indicate relevance
- Name the topic areas the skill covers
- Avoid overlap with other skills' triggers
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "specific phrase", "another phrase", mentions "keyword", or discusses topic-area.Safety notes: scripts and network access
According to the listing, example-skill requires nothing, runs no scripts and uses no network. Its only file is SKILL.md. Because it is text guidance, installing it does not give the agent new ability to change files or fetch data.
If you adapt the template and add a scripts/ folder, review any helper scripts before running them, since the template's own structure shows scripts/ as an optional location for helper code.
- Requires: nothing listed
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Files included: SKILL.md only
What people use it for
- Starting a SKILL.md file for a new Claude Code plugin skill
- Checking the correct frontmatter fields before publishing a skill
- Writing trigger descriptions that match how your users phrase requests
- Giving an internal team one shared documentation layout for their skills
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the example-skill?
Download the ZIP from this skill's page and unzip it. Put the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps you can instead upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does example-skill require anything else?
The listing says it requires nothing, runs no scripts and uses no network access. It contains only a SKILL.md file of guidance text.
Is the example-skill free to use?
It is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, as listed on this page. Check the licence text in the source repository for the full terms before redistributing it.
Will this skill make Claude complete tasks for me?
No. It only explains how skills should be formatted and written. It is documentation for skill authors, not a tool that performs tasks such as fetching data or running code.
Why doesn't my skill trigger when I ask about skills?
Triggering depends on the description field. Make sure your wording matches the trigger phrases in the description, and avoid overlapping trigger conditions with other skills. Testing a few sample queries helps confirm activation.
What is the alternative if I want a skill that does a real task?
Pick a skill whose description and files match the task you need, since example-skill only teaches format. Use this template as a starting point for writing your own SKILL.md for that task.
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Our verdict
Use example-skill if you are writing your first Claude Code plugin skill, want a starting SKILL.md structure, or need one documentation layout for a team. Skip it if you want the agent to perform a practical task or process data, because it contains only formatting guidance and adds no executable functionality.
Download the skill