Keyboard Shortcut
Ctrl+L — clear the visible screen
Clears the visible terminal screen, purely a display refresh — it doesn't touch the conversation history the way /clear does.
After a long stretch of tool output has scrolled the screen full, Ctrl+L gives you a clean visible slate without affecting anything about the actual conversation underneath it.
This is worth not confusing with /clear: Ctrl+L is cosmetic, purely about what's currently on screen, while /clear genuinely resets the conversation's memory.
It's the same shortcut most shells use for the same purpose, so it tends to be immediately familiar.
Press Ctrl+L to clear the visible screenFrequently asked questions
What does Ctrl+L — clear the visible screen do in Claude Code?
Clears the visible terminal screen, purely a display refresh — it doesn't touch the conversation history the way /clear does.
How do I use it?
Try: Press Ctrl+L to clear the visible screen
Any caveats to know about?
It's the same shortcut most shells use for the same purpose, so it tends to be immediately familiar.
Is this covered in the Claude Code Toolkit?
Yes — Ctrl+L — clear the visible screen and patterns like it are part of the full command, hook, and template pack included with a Claude Code Toolkit subscription.
Want the full command, hook, and template pack?
This is one pattern out of the full Claude Code Toolkit — subscribe for the complete set, plus everything we add going forward.
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