Default Mode (Interactive)
Default Mode is Claude Code's standard operating mode. It gives you full control over every action.
How It Works
In Default Mode, Claude will:
- Analyze your request
- Propose changes or actions
- Wait for your approval before executing
This is the safest mode and recommended for:
- Learning Claude Code
- Sensitive codebases
- When you want to review every change
The Approval Flow
When Claude wants to make changes:
Claude: I'll update the login function to add rate limiting.
[Proposed changes shown]
> Approve? (y/n/e)
Your options:
- y - Yes, apply the changes
- n - No, reject the changes
- e - Edit the proposed changes before applying
Best Practices
Be Specific
# Less effective
> Fix the bug
# More effective
> Fix the authentication bug in src/auth/login.ts where
> users can bypass rate limiting
Provide Context
> We're using Express.js with Passport authentication.
> Update the login route to use our new JWT service.
Review Carefully
Take time to review proposed changes. Claude is powerful but not perfect.
When to Use Default Mode
- New to Claude Code - Learn how it thinks
- Critical code - Authentication, payments, data handling
- Unfamiliar codebases - When you need to understand changes
- Team environments - When changes need review
Next Steps
In the next lesson, you'll learn about Auto Mode for when you trust Claude to work independently.