Welcome back to Advanced Claude Code Features! In the previous lessons, we explored custom slash commands and learned how to manage tool permissions. Now, we will discover two powerful features that give us greater control over how Claude plans and executes complex operations.

In this lesson, we will explore Plan Mode and Task delegation. Plan Mode allows us to review Claude's proposed approach before execution, while Task delegation enables us to offload verbose work to subagents in separate contexts. These features are particularly valuable when we need careful oversight or want to avoid flooding our conversation with extensive output.

By the end of this lesson, we will understand when and how to use these advanced workflow controls, giving us confidence to handle risky operations and large-scale analysis tasks efficiently.

When we work with Claude Code, some operations carry significant consequences: renaming database fields across dozens of files, refactoring API endpoints, or analyzing entire codebases with hundreds of files. These scenarios present two distinct challenges.

The first challenge is risk management. Large-scale refactoring can affect many files simultaneously. If something goes wrong, the impact multiplies. We need a way to review the plan before execution begins.

The second challenge is context management. When analyzing 200 files or generating comprehensive documentation, the output can fill our conversation context, making it harder to focus on other work. We need a way to delegate these tasks while keeping our main conversation clean.

Claude Code addresses both challenges: Plan Mode for reviewing before execution, and Task delegation for managing verbose or independent work.

Plan Mode is a structured workflow where Claude creates a detailed written plan before executing any tools. The workflow involves three phases:

1. Exploration - Claude uses tools to understand the codebase scope
2. Interview - Interactive menu gathers your preferences
3. Plan Creation - Detailed approach documented in a markdown file

Let's see this in action with a function renaming scenario:

Claude explores with a subagent to understand the structure without cluttering our conversation. Then it presents an interactive interview:

After we answer, Claude creates a comprehensive written plan:

Plan Mode automatically activates for operations with significant scope:

Task delegation addresses operations producing extensive output. A Task is a separate execution context where a subagent performs independent work without cluttering our main conversation.

To use Task delegation, explicitly request it in your prompt:

The summary provides essential insights without overwhelming our conversation, while the full analysis is preserved for deeper investigation.

Important: Without explicitly requesting a Task, verbose operations may output directly to your main conversation. Use phrases like "create a task to..." or "delegate to a task..." to ensure clean context management.

Use Plan Mode when:

• Large-scale refactoring operations
• Database schema changes
• Multi-step coordinated changes
• Any operation where you want to review the approach before execution

Use Task delegation when:

• Operations produce verbose output (analyzing 200+ files)
• Task is independent and doesn't need conversation history
• You need to keep your main context clean for other work

Trigger Task delegation explicitly with phrases like:

• "Create a task to analyze entire codebase"
• "Delegate generating documentation for all APIs to a task"
• "Use a task to find all TODO comments"

Don't use Tasks for:

• Quick file reads (just use Read)
• Operations needing your conversation context
• Tasks requiring back-and-forth interaction

For sophisticated workflows, additional commands are available:

You can also start Claude with Plan Mode enabled from the beginning:

This ensures all operations begin with the planning workflow.

For everyday work, remember:

• Shift+Tab = Cycle execution modes
• "Create a plan to..." = Triggers planning workflow
• "Create a task to..." = Delegates to separate context

In this lesson, we learned two powerful workflow control features. Plan Mode provides structured planning through exploration, interview, and written documentation before execution—invaluable for risky operations. Task delegation offloads verbose work to subagents in separate contexts, keeping our conversation clean during extensive analysis.

These features transform how we handle complex operations: Plan Mode gives confidence through structured review, while Task delegation prevents context overload when explicitly requested. Now, it's time to practice! The upcoming exercises will challenge you to apply these concepts in realistic scenarios. Get ready to master advanced Claude Code workflows!